r 



PR 

• R45H3 







HARDSCRABBLE; 



OB, THE 



FALL OF CHICAGO 



A TALE OF INDIAN WARFARE. 



BY MAJOR RICHARDSON. 



A0TBOB 0? "WAOOUSTA," " HOARTB," " MATILDA MONTOOMBRIl," BTO.^ BTfl. 



NEW YOKK: 
DB WITT & DAVENPORT, PUBLISHERS. 

160 & 162 NASSAU STREET. 



V\ 






Bktssxi) according to Act of Congmfl^ in tho year 1806, by 

DE WITT k, DAVENPORT, 

ttt Wt Cl^rk'e Offic* rf the X)tatricl Onirt oftho Unfted SUIwi, f^^ 'l^*" SomU-rn Wiatrirl oi 
Nuw Vork. 



In r> , 



\7. !1. TiMfiox, Stereolyper, 



V 






HARDSCRABBLE; 

OK, 

THE FALL OF CHICAGO 



CHAPTER I. 

It was on a beautiful day in the early part of the month of April, 1812, 
that four persons were met io a rude farm-house, situated on the Southern 
Branch of the Chicago river, aud about four miles distant from the fort of 
that name. They had just risen from their humble mid-day meal, and three 
of them were now lingering near the fire-place, filled with blazing logs, 
which, at that early season, diffused a warmth by no means disagreeable, 
and gave an air of cheerfulness to the interior of the smoke-discolored build- 
ing. 

He who appeared to be master of the establishment was a tall, good look- 
ing man of about forty-five, who had, evidently, been long a denizen of the 
forest, for his bronzed countenance bore traces of care and toil, while his 
rugged, yet well-formed hands conveyed the impression of the unceasing 
war he had waged against the gigantic trees of this Western land. He was 
habited in a hunting-frock of grey homespun, reaching about half way down 
to his knee, and trimmed with a full fringe of a somewhat darker hue. His 
trowsers were of the same material, and both were girt around his loins by 
a common belt of black leather, fastened by a plain white buckle, into 
which was thrusi a sheath of black leather also, containing a large knife 
peculiar to the backwoodsmen of that day. His feet were encased in 
moccasins, and on his head, covered with strong dark hair, was carelessly 
donned a slouched hat of common black felt, with several plaited folds of the 
sweet grass of the adjoining prairie for a band. Ho was seemingly a man 
of strong muscular power, whila his stern dark eye denoted firmness and 
daring. 

The elder of the two men, to whom this individual stood, evidently, in 
the character of a superior, was a short thick-set person of about fifty, witli 
huge whiskers that, originally black, had been slightly grizzled by time. 
His eyebrows were bushy aud overhanging, and almost concealed the small, 
and twinkling eyes, which it required the beholder to encounter more than 
once before he could decide their true color to be a dark gray. A blanket 
coat that had once been white, but which the action of some half dozen win- 



8 / HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

ters had changed into a dirty yellow, enveloped his rather full forna, around 
which it was confined by a coarse worsted sash of mingled blue and red, 
thickly studded with minute white beads. His trowsers, with broad seams, 
after the fashion of the Indian leggin, were of a dark crimson, approaching 
to a brick-dust color, and on liis feet he wore the stiff shoe-pack, which, with 
the bonnet bleu on his grizzled head, and the other parts of hia dress ah'eady 
described, attested him to be what he was— a French Canadian. Close at his 
heels, and moving as he moved, or squatted on his haunches, gazing into the 
face of his master when stationary, was a large dog of the mongrel breed 
peculiar to the country — evidently with wolf blood in his veins. 

His companion was of a diU'erent style of iigure and costume. He was a 
thin, weak-looking man, of middle height, with a complexion that denoted 
his Saxon origin. Very tliin brows, retrousse nose, and a light gray eye in 
which might be traced an expression half simple, half cunning, completed 
the picture of this personage, whose lank body was encjised in an old Ameri- 
can uniform of faded blue, so scanty in its proportions that the wrists of the 
wearer wholly exposed themselves beneath the short, narrow sleeves, while 
the skirts only " shadowed not concealed," that part of the body they had 
been originally intended to cover. A pair of blue pantaloons, perfectly in 
keeping, on the score of scantiness and age, with the coat, covered the 
attenuated lower limbs of the wearer, on whose head, moreover, was stuck 
a conical cap that had all the appearance of having been once a portion of 
the same uniform, and had only undergone change in the loss of its peak. 
A small black leather, narrow ridged stock was clasped around his thin, and 
scare-crow neck, and that so tightly that it was the wonder of his compan- 
ions how strangulation had so long been avoided. A dirty, and very coarse 
linen shirt, showed itself partially between the bottom of the stock, and the 
upi)ennost button of the coat, which was carefully closed, while his feet were 
protected from the friction of the stiff, though nearly wornout, military 
shoes, by wisps of hay, that supplied the absence of the sock. This man 
was about five and thirty. 

The last of the little party was a boy. He was a raw-boned lad of about 
fourteen years of age, and of fair complexion, with blue eyes, and an immense 
head of bushy hair, of the same hue, which seemed never to have known 
the use of the comb. His feet were naked, and his trowsers and shirt, the 
only articles of dress upon him at the moment, were of a homespun some- 
what resembling, in color the hunting frock of his master. A thick black 
leather strap was also around his loins — evidently part of an old bridle 
rein. 

The two men first described, drew near the fire and lighted their pipes. 
The ex-militaire thrust a quid of tobacco into his cheek, and taking up a 
small piece of pine board that rested against the chimney corner, split a por- 
tion off this with his jack-knife, and commenced whittling. The boy busied 
himself in clearing the table, throwing occasionally scraps of bread and dried 
venison, which had constituted the chief portion of the meal, to the dog, 
which, however, contrary to custom, paid little attention to these marks of 
favor, but moved impatiently, at intervals, to the door, then returning, squat- 
ted himself again on his haunches, at a short distance from his master, and 



THE FALL OF CniCAGO. 9 

littering a low soniid betwixt a whine ami a growl, looked piteously up iuto 
his face. 

" Vat the devil is de matter wid you, Loup Garou ?"' remarked the Cana- 
dian at length, as, removing the pipe from his lips, her stretched his legs, and 
poised himself in his low wood-buttomed chair, putting forth his right hand 
at the same time to his canine follower. " You not eat, and you make noise 
as if you wish me to see one racoon in de tree." 

"Loup Garou don't prate about coons 1 guess," drawled the man in the 
faded uniform, without, however, removing his eyes from the very interest- 
ing occupation in which he was engaged. That dog I taVe it, Le Noir, means 
something else — something more than we human critters know. By gosh, 
boss," looking for the first time at him who stood in that position to the 
rest of the party — " If ice can't smell the varmint, I take it Loup Garou 
does." 

At this early period of civilization, in these remote countries, there was 
little distinction of rank between the master and the man — the employer and 
the employed. Indeed the one was distinguished from the other only by the 
instructions given and received, in regard to certain services to be performed. 
They labored together — took their meals together — generally smoked together 
— drank together — conversed together, and if they did not absolutely sleep 
together, often reposed in the same room. There was, therefore, nothing 
extraordinary in the familiar tone in which the ci-devant soldier now 
addressed him whose hired help he was. The latter, however, was in an 
irritable mood, and he answered sharply. 

" What have you got into your foolish head now, Ephraim Giles ? Yon 
do nothing but prophesy evil. What varmint do you talk of, and what has 
Loup Garou to do with it? Speak, what do you mean? — if you mean any- 
thing at all." 

As he uttered this half rebuke, he rose abruptly from his chair, shook the 
ashes from his pipe, and drew himself to his full height, with his back to the 
fire. There had been nothing very remarkable in the observation made bj' 
the man to whom he had addressed himself, but he was in a peculiar state 
of mind, that gave undue jmportance to every word, sounding, as it did, a 
vague presentiment of some coming evil, which the very singular manner of 
the dog had created, although he would scarcely acknowledge this to himself. 

The man made no reply, but continued whittling, humming, at the same 
time, the air of " Yankee Doodle." 

" Answer me, Ephraim Giles," peremptorily resumed his master ; " leave 
oil' that eternal whittling of yours, if you can, and explain to me your 
meaning." 

" Etarnal whittling! do you call it. Boss? I guess it's no such thing. 
No man knows better nor you, that, if lean whittle the smallest stick in 
creation, I can bring down the stoutest tree as well as ere a fellow in 
Michigan. Work is work — play is play. It's only the difTerence, I reckon, 
of the axe and the knife." 

" Will yon answer my question like a man, and not like a fool, as you 
are?" shouted the other, stooping, and extending his left hand, the fingers 
of which he insinuated into the stock already described, while, with a 



10 HABDSCRAliBLE ; OR, 

powerful jerk, he bolh brought the man to his feet, and the blood into his 
usually cadaverous cheek. 

Ephraim ftdes, half-throttled, and writhing with pain, made a uioveuieut 
as if he would have used the knife in a much less innocent manner than 
whittling, but tlie quick, stern eye of his master, detected the involuntary 
act, and his hand, suddenly relinquishing its hold of the collar, grasped the 
wrist of the soldier witli such a vice-like pressure, that the fingers immedi- 
ately opened, and the knife fell upon the hearth. 

The violence of his own act, l)rought Mr. Heywood at once to a sense of 
the undue severity he had exercised towards his servant, and ho immediately 
said, taking his liand : 

" Ephraim Giles, forgive me, but it was not intended. Yet, 1 know not 
how it is, the few words you spoke just now made me anxious to know 
what you meant, and 1 could not repress my impatience to hear your 
explanation." 

The soldier had never before remarked so much dignity of manner about 
his Boss, as he termed Mr. Heywood, and this fact, added to the recollection 
of the severe handling lie had just met with, caused him to be a little more 
respectful in his address. 

" Well, I reckon," he said, picking up his knife, and resuming liis whittling, 
but in a less absorbed manner, " 1 meant no harm, but merely tliat Loup 
Garou can nose an Injin better than ere a one of us." 

" Nose an Indian better than any one of us 1 Well, perhaps he can — he 
sees them every day, but wliat has that to do with his whining and growling 
just now ?" 

" Well, I'll tell you. Boss, what I mean, more plain-like. You know lliat 
patch of wood borderin' on the prairie, where you set me to cut, t'other 
day ?" 

" I do. What of that S" 

" Well, then, this mornin' I was cuttin' down as big an oak as ever grew 
in Michigan, when, as it went thundoriu' through the branches, with joise 
enough to scare every buflalo within a day's hunt, uj) started, not twenty 
yards from it's tip, ten or a dozen or so of lujins, all gruntin' like pigs, and 
looking as fierce as so many red devils. They didn't look quite pleasant, I 
calcilate." 

"Indeed," rem.trked Mr. Heywood, musingly; " a party of Pottowattamies 
I presume, from the Fort. Wo all know there is a large encampment of 
them iu the neighborhood, but they are our friends." 

" May-be so," continued Ephraim Giles, " but tlie^e varmint didn't look 
over friendly, and then I guess the Pottowattamies don't dress in war paint, 
'cept when tliey dance for liquor." 

" And are you quite sure these Indians were in their war jiaint?" asked 
his master, with an ill-concealed look of anxiety. 

"No mistake about it," replied Giles, still whittling, "and I could almost 
swear, short as the squint was I got of 'em, that they were part of those 
who fought us on the Wabash, two years ago." 

"How so, den, you are here, Gile. If dey wicked Injin, how you keep 
your funny little cap, an' your scalp under de cap ?" 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 11 

This question was aslied by the Canadian, who had hitherto, wliile puffing 
his pipe, listened indifferently to the conversation, but whose attention had 
now become arrested, from tlje moment that his fellow-laborer had spoken 
of the savages, so strangely disturbed by him. 

" Well, I don't exactly know about that, myself," returned tlie soldier, 
slightly raising his cap and scratching his crown, as if in recollection of some 
narrowly escaped danger. " I reckon, tho', when I see them slope up like a 
covey of red-legged pattridges, my heart was in my mouth, for I looked for 
nothin' else but that same operation : bnt I wur just as well pleased, when, 
after talkin' their gibberisli,,and makin' all sorts of signs among themselves, 
they made tracks towards the open prairie." 

" And why did you not name this, the instant you got home?" somewhat 
sternly questioned Mr. Heywood. 

" Where's the use of spilin' a good dinner ?" returned the soldier. " It 
was all smokin' hot when I came in from choppin', and I thought it best for 
every man to tuck it in before I said a word about it. Besides, I reckon I 
don't know as they meant any harm, seein' as how they never carried off 
my top-knot ; — only it was a little queer they were hid in that way in the 
woods, and looked so fierce when they first jumped up in their nasty paint.' 

" Who knows," remarked Mr. Heywood, taking down his rifle from tho. 
side of the hut opposite to the chimney, and examining the priming, " but 
these fellows may have tracked you back, and are even now, lurking near 
us. Ephraim Giles, you should have told me of this before." 

" And so," replied the soldier, " I was goin' to, when Loup Garou begaa 
with his capers. Then it was I gave a parable like, about his scentin' the 
varmint better nor we human critters could." 

"Ephraim Giles," said Mr. Heywood, sharply, while he fixed his dark eye 
upon him, as if he would have read his inmost soul, "you say that you have 
been a soldier, and fought with our army on the Wabash. Why did yoa 
leave the service 2" 

" Because," drawled the ex-militaire, with a leering expression of his eye, 
" my captin was a bad judge of good men when he had 'em, and reckoned 
I was shammin' when I fell down rale sick, and was left behind in a charge 
made on the Injins at Tippecanoe. I couldn't stand the abuse he gave me 
for this, and so I left him." 

" Cool, indeed," sneered Mr. Heywood ; " now then, Ephraim Giles, hear 
my opinion. Your captain thought you were a coward, for he judged you 
from your conduct. I, too, judge you from your conduct, and have no 
hesitation in pronouncing you to be a rogue or a fool." 

" Well, I want to know !" was the only rejoinder of the man, as ho went 
on unconcernedly with his whittling. 

" Le Noir," said his master to the Canadian, who, imitating his example^ 
had taken down a long duck gun from the same side of the hut, " take your 
dog with you, and reconnoitre in the neighborhood. You speak Indian, and 
if any of these people are to be seen, ascertain who they are and why ' 

Here he was interrupted by the gradually approaching sounds of rattling 
deer hoofs, so well known as composing one of the lower ornaments of the 
Indian war-dress, while, at the same moment, the wild moaning of Loup 



12 HARDSCKABBLE ; OR, 

Garon, then standing at the front door-way, was renewed even more plain- 
tively than before. 

Mr. Heywood's cheek blanclied. It was not with fear, for he was a man 
incapable of fear in the common acceptation of the word, but independently 
of certain vague apprehensions for others, his mind had been in a great 
degree unhinged by an nnaccountable presentiment of evil, which instinct- 
ively bad come over it that day. It was this, that, inducing a certain 
irresoluteness of thought and action, had led him into a manifestation of 
peevish contradiction in his address to Ephraim Giles. There are moments, 
when, without knowing why, the nerves of the strongest— the purposes of 
the wisest, are unstrung — and when it requires all our tact and self-possessiou 
to conceal from others, the momentary weakness we almost blush to admit to 
ourselves. , 

But there was no time for reflection. The approach to the door was 
suddenly shaded, and in the next instant the dark forms of three or four 
savages, speedily followed b^ otherti, amounting in all to twelve, besides their 
chief, who was in the advance, crossed the threshold, and, without uttering 
a word, either of anger or salutation, squatted themselves upon the floor. 
They were stout, athletic warriors, the perfect symmetry of whose persons 
conld not be concealed even by the hideous war-paint with which they were 
thickly streaked — inspiring anything but confidence in the honesty or friend- 
liness of their intentions. The head of each was shaved and painted as well 
as his person, and only on the extreme crown had been left a tuft of hair, to 
■which were attached featliers, and small bones, and other fantastic ornaments 
peculiar to their race — a few of them carried American rifles — the majority, 
the common gun periodically dealt out to the several tribes, as presents from 
the British Government, while all had in addition to their pipe-tomahawksi 
the formidable and polished war-club. 

Such visitors, and so armed, were not of a description to remove the 
apprehensions of the little party in the farm-house. Their very silence," 
added to their dark and threatening looks, created more than mere suspi- 
cion — a certainty of evil design — and deeply did Mr. Hoywood deplore 
the folly of Ephraim Giles in failing to apprise him of his meeting with 
these people, at the earliest moment after his return. Had he done so, there 
might have been a chance, nay, every assurance of relief, for he knew that 
a party from the fort, consisting of a non-commissioned officer and six men, 
were even now fishing not more than two miles higher up the river. He 
■was aware that the boy, Wilton, was an excellent runner, and that within 
an hour, at least, lie could have reached and brought down that party, who, 
as was their wont, when absenting themselves on these fishing excursions, 
were provided with their arms. However, it might not yet be too late, and 
he determined to make the attempt. To call and speak to the boy aside, 
would, he was well aware, excite the suspicions of his unwelcome guests, 
■while it was possible that, as they did not understand English, (so at least 
he took it for granted) a communication made to him boldly in their pre- 
sence, would be construed into some domestic order. 

" Wilton," he said calmly to the boy, who stood near the doorway with 
alarm visibly depicted on his countenance, and looking as if he would 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 13 

eagerly seize a favorable opportunity of eeoapo, " make all haste to the fish- 
ing party, and tell Corporal Nixon who ooramands it, to lose no time in pall- 
ing down tlie stream. You will come b.ack with them. Quick, lose not a 
moment." 

Delighted at the order, the boy made no answer, but hatless — shoeless as 
he was, disappeared round the corner of the house. Strange to say, the 
Indians, although they had seemingly listened with attention to Mr. Hey- 
wood while issuing these directions, did not make the slightest movement to 
arrest the departure of the boy, or even to remark upon it^merely turning to 
their chief, who uttered a sharp and satisfied " ugh." 

During all this time, Mr. Heywood and Le Noir stood at some little 
distance from the Indians, and nearly on the spot they had occupied at their 
entrance, the one holding his rifle, the other his duck-gun, the butts of both 
resting on the floor. At each moment their anxiety increased, and it seemed 
an age before the succor they had sent for could arrive. How long, more- 
over, would these taciturn and forbidding-mannered savages wait before 
they gave some indication of overt hostility, and even if nothing were done 
prior to the arrival of the fishing party, would these latter be in suflicient 
force to awe them into a pacific departure ? The Indians were twelve in 
number, exclusive of their chief, all fierce and determined. They, with the 
soldiers, nine ; for neither Mr. Heywood nor Le Noir seemed disposed to 
count upon any efficient aid from Ephraim Giles, who, during this dumb 
scene, continued whittling before the Indians, apparently as cool and indifier- 
ent to their presence, as if he had conceived them to be the most peaceably 
disposed persons in the world. He had, however, listened attentively to the 
order given to Wilton by his master, and had not failed to remark that the 
Indians had not, in any way, attempted to impede his departure. 

" "What do you think of these people, Le Noir," at length asked Mr. Hey- 
wood, without, however removing his gaze from his visitors. "Can they be 
friendly PottawattamiesI" 

"Friendly PottawattamiesI no, sare," returned the Canadian seriously, 
and shrugging up his shoulders. " Dey no dress, no paint like do Pottawat- 
tamie, and I not like der black look — no, sare, dey "Winnebago." 

He laid a strong emphasis on the last word, and as he expected, a general 
"ugh" among the party attested that he had correctly named their 
tribe. 

"While they were thus expressing their conjectures in regard to the char- 
acter and intentions of their guests, and inwardly determining to sell their 
lives as dearly as possible if attacked. Ephraim Giles had risen from his 
seat in the corner of the chimney, and with his eyes fixed on the stick he 
was whittling, walked coolly out of the door, and sauntered down the path- 
way leading to the river. But if he had calcuhited on the same indifiierence 
to his actions that the Indians had manil'ested towards tlie boy, he was mis- 
taken. They all watched him keenly as he slowly sauntered towards the 
■water, and then, when he had got about half way, the chief suddenly .spring- 
ing to his feet, and brandishing his tomahawk demanded in broken, but per- 
fectly intelligible English, where he was going. 

" "Well, I want to know," exclaimed the soldier, turning round, and in a 



14 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

tone indicating surprise that lie liad thus been questioned — " only goin over 
tliar," he coutiimed, pointing to the haystacks on the opposite side of the 
river, around which stood many cattle," goin I guess to give out some grub 
to the beasts, and I'll be back in no time, to give yon ont some whisky." 
Then, resuming his course, he went on whittling as unconcernedly as 
before. 

The chief turned to his followers, and .1 low, yet eager conversation ensued. 
Whether it was that the seeming indifl'erence of the man, or his promise of 
the whisky on his return, or that some other motive influenced them, they 
contented themselves with keeping a vigilant watch npon his movements. 

Mr. Heywood and the Frenclnnan exchanged looks of surprise; they could 
not account for the action of Ephraim Giles, for although it was his ofiBce 
to cross the river daily for the purpose he had named, it had never been at 
that period of tlie day. How the Indians could suffer his departure, if their 
intentions were really hostile, it was moreover impossible for them to com- 
prehend ; and in proportion as the hopes of the one were raised by this 
circumstance, so were those of the other depressed. 

Mr. Heywood began to think that the suspicions of the Canadian were 
unfounded, and that their guests were, after all, but a \>a,Tty of warriors on 
their way to the Fort, either for purposes of traffic with the only merchant 
residing in its vicinity, or of business with the officer commanding. It was 
not likely, he reasoned, that men coming with hostile designs, would have 
suffisred first the boy to be despatched on a mission which, obscurely as he 
had worded his directions, must in some meaaure have been understood by the 
chief; and, secondly, permitted Ephraim Giles to leave the house in the 
manner just seen — particularly when the suspicion entertained by him as 
well as by Le Noir and himself, must have been apparent. 

But the Canadian drew no such inference from these facte. Although he 
could not speak the "Winnebago language, he was too conversant with the 
customs of the Indians, to perceive, in what they permitted in this seeming 
confidence, anything but guile. He felt assured they had allowed the boy 
to depart on liis errand soldi/ that they miglit have a greater number of vic- 
tims in their power. Nothing was more easy, numerous as they were, than 
to despatch them, and then, lying in ambush among the trees that skirted 
the banks, to shoot down every one in the fishing boat before a landing could 
be etfected, and preparations made for defence ; while, in the indifl'erence of 
their conduct in regard to the departure of Ephraim Giles, he saw but a 
design to disarm suspicion, and tlius induce them to lay by their arms, the 
reports of which would necessarily alarm the party expected, and so far put 
them on their guard as to defeat their plans. The very appearance of Giles, 
moreover, crossing tlie water, if seen by the descending boat would, he 
thought they imagined, be a means of lulling the parly into security, and 
thus rendering them a more easy prey. 

While tlio master and the servant were thus indulging their opposite 
reflections, without, however, making any intercommunication of them, 
Ephraim Giles, who had now thrust his knife and stick into the pocket of 
his short skirt, shoved ofl' the only canoe that was to be seen, and stepping 
into it, and seizing the paddle, urged it slowly, and without the slightest 



THE FALL OK CHICAGO. 15 

appearance of hurry, to tlie opposite bauk, where, within less than ten 
minutei?, he had again liauled it up. Thee, as cooly ascending the banli, lie 
approached one of tlie haystacks, and drew from it a few handfuls of fodder 
which he spread upon tlie ground, continuing to do so, as the cattle assembled 
around, until he Iiad gained tlie outermost haystack bordering immediately 
upon the wood. Tliis reached, he gave a loud yell, which was promptly 
answered by the Indiana, who had continued to watch his movements up to 
the very moment of his dieappearance ; and darting along a narrow path 
which skirted the wood, ran with all his speed towards the Fort. His flight 
had not lasted five miniUes, when the reports of several guns, fired from the 
direction he had just quitted, met his ear, and urged him to even greater 
exertion, until at longtii, haggard and breathless, he gained his destination, 
and made his way to tlie commanding officer, to wiiom lie briefly detailed 
the startling occurrences he had witnessed. 



CHAPTER II. 

The Fort of Chicago, at that period, stood upon a portion of the same 
ground occupied by its successor, and was, in fact, a very epitome of a 
fortress. On the western side, two block-houses constituted its chief defence, 
while on the north, a subterranean passage led from the parade-ground to 
the river, near the banks of which it had been erected. The uses of thig 
sally port were two-fold — firstly, to afi'ord the garrison a supply of water in 
the event of a siege — secondly, to facilitate escape, if necessary. The 
country around, now the seat of fruitfulness and industry, was at that time a 
wilderness, tenanted only by the savage, and by the few daring and adven- 
turous whites who had devoted their live^ to purposes of trafiic, yet whose 
numbers was so small as to induce them, with a view to their safety, to 
establish themselves as near the Fort as possible. Roads, there were none, 
and the half formed trail of the Indian furnished the only means of commu- 
nication between this distant port, and the less thinly-settled portions of 
Michigan. Nor were these journeys of frequent occurrence, but performed 
at long intervals, by the enterprising and the robust men — who feared not 
to encounter privations and hardships — encamping at night in the woods, 
or finding a less desirable repose in tlie squalid wigwam of tlie uncertain 
Indian. 

The mouth of the Chicago River was then nearly half a mile more to the 
southward than it is now. At a short distance from the lake, which gives 
its name to tlie territory, it soon branched oil' abruptly to the north, and 
then again, taking another turn, pursued its original westernly course, and, 
pasb^ing near the Fort, gave to the latter the appearance of a slightly elevated 
peninsula, separated only from the water by a gentle declivity of no great 
extent. On the same side of the river was the Government Agency House, 
and at about a quarter of a mile from that, a spot generally used as a place 
of encampment by the friendly Indians — at that momeut occupied by a 
numerous band of Pottawattamies. Immediately opposite to the Fort, stood 



16 HAKDSCRABBl.E ; OR, • 

the residence and trading establishment of Mr. Mackenzie — a gentleman who 
had long mixed with the Indians — had much influence with, and was highly 
regarded by them ; and, close to liis abode, lived with his family, consisting 
of his wife and her sister, French Canadians like himself, Ouilmette, one of 
the most attached of his people, and enjoying almost equal popularity with 
the red men. About a quarter of a mile beyond Ouilmettes, and immedi- 
ately opposite to the Pottawattamie encampment, from which it was divided 
only by the river, was another small but neat dwelling. This belonged to 
Mr. Eeywood, and was then inhabited by his wife and daughter, whom he 
would not permit to reside at the farm, as well on account of its rudeness 
of accommodation, as of the dread of exposing them, in that remote situation, 
to the very danger which we have seen he had himself so recently encoun- 
tered. 

Such was the civilian population of that sparsely inhabited country in 
1812. Let us now see the strength of its garrison. 

For the defence of so distant an outpost, almost cut off, as we have 
already shown, from communication with the more inhabited portions of the 
States, the American government had not thought it requisite to provide 
more than a single company of soldiers, a force utterly inadequate to con- 
tend in a case of emergency, with the hordes of savages that could be col- 
lected around them within a few hours, and weehs before any efficient suc- 
cor could be obtained. This error, grave at any time, in those who sought 
to extend the influence of their name and arras throughout that fertile 
region which has now, within little more than a quarter of a century, 
become the very head of American commerce and navigation, was especially 
so at this particular epoch, when the Indian spirit, stirred to action by the 
great chief who had so recently measured his strength with his hated ene- 
mies at Tippecanoe, was likely to be aroused on all occasions where facility 
of conquest seemed to present itself. And, yet, that government well knew 
that there were, even at that moment, difficulties existing between them- 
selves and Great Britain of a character to lead to an interruption of the 
friendly intercourse that had hitherto subsisted between the two countries, 
and which, if suffered to ripen into hostilities, would necessarily, associate 
many of the Indian tribes with the forces of England, drawing down certain 
destruction on those remoter posts, whose chief reliance on immunity from 
danger, lay, in a great degree, in the array of strength they could oppose to 
their subtle and calculating enemy. 

This company, consisting, of seventy-five men — many of them married 
and with families — was under the command of an officer whose conduct 
throughout the eventful and trying scenes about to be recorded, has often 
been the subject of much censure — with what justice our readers must 
determine. 

Captain Headley was one of those officers who, without having acquired 
no greater rank at the age of forty than he now possessed, had served in the 
army of the United States from his boyhood, and was, in all the minutias of 
the service , a strict disciplinarian. He had, moreover, acquired habits of 
deference to authority, which caused him, on all necessary occasions, to 
regulate bis conduct by the orders of his superiors, and so strongly was this 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 



17 



engrafted on his nature, that while he possessed raiud and energy sufficient 
to plan the most feasible measures himself, Uis dread of that responsibility 
which circumstances had now forced upon him, induced the utmost disincli- 
nation to depart from the letter of an instruction once received, and unre- 
voked. 

These, however, were purely faults of his military education. To a com- 
manding person and dignified manners, Oaptain Headley united a mind 
highly cultivated, and feelings and sentiments which could not fail to secure 
the respect even of those who were most ready to condemn that caution 
and prudence of character which so eminently distinguished his career as a 
subordinate soldier. It was well known and conceded that, if he erred, 
the error grow not so much out of Ids own want of judgment, but was 
rather the fruit of the too great deference to authority which led him, 
implicitly, to adopt the judgment of others. In the private relations of 
life, he was deservedly esteemed, excelling in all those higher accomplish- 
ments that ensure favor with society, and seldom fail to win for their pos- 
sessor the approbation of women. Such, indeed, liad been his success in this 
particular application of the gifts with which nature had endowed him, that 
he had, for some years, been the possessor of the affections and the hand of 
one of the noblest of her sex, whom, however, we shall take a later oppor- 
tunity of introducing to the reader. 

The next officer in rank was Lieutenant Elmsley, married also, and about 
ten years the junior of Headley. From causes, which will be explained in 
the course of our narrative, the subaltern did not incline to place that con- 
fidence in the measures and judgment of his captain, which, it has been 
shown, the latter almost invariably accorded to his superiors, and henco 
arose feelings, that, without absolutely alienating them — for, in their rela- 
tive military positions this could never be — rendered their intercourse daily 
more and more formal, until, in the end, a sentiment almost of enmity pre- 
vailed. In a remote garrison like tlus such an evil was the more to be 
regretted, even while there was the greater probability, from absence of 
serious occupation, of its occurrence. 

The junior subaltern was Ensign Ronayno, a high-spirited young Soutlier- 
ner, who had now been three years at the post, and within that period, had, 
by his frank demeanor, and handsome person, won the regard of all — mili- 
tary and civil — there and in tlie neighborhood. Enterprising, ardent, 
fearless, and chivalrous, this young man had passed the first year of what he, 
then, considered little short of banislunent, in a restless desire for adventure; 
but at the end of that period, came a marked cliange over him, and the 
spirit that had panted exclusively for action, now bent before a gentler and 
a hoher influence. 

Last of the officers of this little fort, was the surgeon. Doctor Von Vot- 
tenberg, who as his name would imply, was a descendant from one of the 
earlier Dutcl settlers in the colonies. There was nothing remarkable about 
this gentleman. He was short, stout, rather of a bilious temperament — 
clever in his profession, and much addicted to compounding whisky punch, 
which he not only brewed, but drank most satisfactorily. What otlier attrib- 
utes and accomplishments he possessed, the incidents herein related must 
develope. 



18 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

It has been said that, on its Western side, the Fort was protected by two 
block-houses, while on the northern a sally port communicated with tlie 
tower. On each side of the sally port wore two small stores, reserved for 
the ammunition and arms, and for the provisions and spare clotliing of the 
garrison. On the north and south faces, rose a series of small low wooden 
buildings, appropriated to the officers, and capable of containing tljrice the 
number now occupying them. The southern face, or tliat which looks to- 
wards tlie locale of the scene described in our last chapter, was now the resi- 
dence of the commanding officer, and of his senior subordinate, who, with 
their families and domestics, tenanted the whole of that range of buildings, 
with the exception of one large room in the centre, generally used as a ha 1 
of council with the Indians. In the other range, precisely similar in con- 
struction, were quartered Ensign Ronayno and the surgeon Von Vottenberg, 
who each, however occupied but one apartment. The central and largest 
serving as their mess-room. The other half of the building was vacant, or 
rather had been so, until the doctor obtained the permission of the command- 
ing officer to use it as a temporary surgery — the hospital being a distinct 
edifice between the two block-houses. These latter, capacious for the size 
of the fort, accommodated the non-commissioned officers and men — the com- 
pany being divided as equally as possible between the two. 

Without the whole of these buildings stood a strong stockade, about twelve 
feet high, loop-holed for musquetry, with a bastion at each angle, facing the 
four principal points of the compass, on each of which was placed a small gun, 
that the men had been trained to work. The entrance to the fort was from 
the westward, and in the direction of the agency house, which two of these 
bastions immediately flanked. 

The guard consisted of a non-commissioned officer and nine men — three 
sentries being furnished for the necessary duties — one for the stores already 
described — another for the commanding officer's quarters — the mess-room and 
the surgery, and the third for the southern bastion, upon which floated the 
glorious stars and stripes of the Union. A fourth sentry at tlie gate had been 
dispensed with, in consequence of the proximity to it of tlie guard-house. 
This was a small building immediately in front of the hospital, which, with 
the gate, came particularly under the surveillance of the non-commissioned 
ofiicer of the guard. 

With the character for strict attention to discipline, which has been 
ascribed to Captain Headlej', it will be easily understood tliat every man on 
duty was expected to be as correct in the execution of its details, as though 
he had been at the Head Quarters of his regiment, or at the Seat of 
Government itself. The utmost regard to dress, and to the efiiciency of 
arms was moreover enjoined, and eo far did their commander feel indisposed 
to trust the inspection of them to the non-commissioned officer of the guard, 
that, although there were in the Fort, but two regimental officers besides 
himself, he had, from the moment of assuming the command, required them , 
alternately to perform the necessary duties ; superintending the rehef of 
guards, and parading all men off duty and out of hospital, in full dress, at 
least once in the twenty-four hours. 

At the cutset, this had been a source of much discontent with the men, 
wli^. conceiving that, in that remote region, the rigor of the service might 



THK KAl.I, OF CHICACO. 19 

be dispeused with, almost opeuly expressed their Uesiro tliat there might bo 
sent to coramaiul tlieni, some officer less severe in his exaolions. This liad 
been reported to Captain lleadley by liis senior subaltern, from whose manner, 
wiiile communicatini; the infcrmatiou, it was apparent tliat ho did not 
wliolly disapprove of a reraunsti'ance against measures wliioli involved tlie 
sacrifice of Ids own comfort. His superior was not slow to remarlv this, he, 
however, quietly observed that he was not, at his years, and in his responsi- 
ble position, to be told the duty required to bo perforuied by the troops 
under his command ; and that, if he perceived any symptoms of insubordina- 
tion, he would take the proper means to suppress it. The lieutenant made 
no reply, but bit his lip, and withdrew. This was the first manifestation of 
any thing approaching to disunion, between these two officers. 

Lieutenant Elmsley, although by no means a negligent officer, was no 
disciplinarian. He could not but look upon formal guard mountings- and 
parades, in that isolated quarter, as unnecessary — serving only to create 
discontent amongst the men, and to induce them — the unmarried especially 
— to desert, whenever an opportunity presented itself; while, bringing the 
subject more immediately home to him«elf, he deemed it to be a needlessly 
severe tax upon the only two subalterns of the garrison. This, he thought 
might, situated as they were, have been dispensed with, without the slightest 
inconvenience to the service ; and the duty left to the superintendence of 
the non-commissioned part of the force. Hence his annoyance with his 
superior. 

But Captain Headley wa-s of a different opinion. He thought that .the 
very remoteness of his post, rendered it the more necessary that no ai)pear- 
ance of carelessness should be remarked by the tribes of Indians who were in 
the vicinity, and who, however amicable their relations then with the United 
States, might later, from caprice or events yet unforeseen, take advantage 
of the slightest negligence, to attempt the destruction of all. 

Better, lie thought, that they who received the pay of the Government, 
for upholding its interests and dignity, should be subject to a frequent 
recurrence of duty — not in it*;elf particularly irksome — than that an impor- 
tant post — the nucleus of the future prosperity of the State — should be 
perilled by the absence of that vigilance which ought to characterize the 
soldier. If he allowed to be -retrenched, or indeed left unemployed, any of 
that military exhibition, which tends to impress upon the many the moral 
superiority of the few, where, he argued, would be their safety in the hour 
of need ; and if those duties were performed in a slovenly manner, and 
without due regard to scenic eilect, the result would ho to induce the wily 
savage to undervalue that su|ieriority which discipline chielly secured to the 
■white warrior. Captain Headley was discrinunating and observant. Ho 
had, more than once, remarked the surprise and admiration created among 
the Indians who had access within the stockadiii at the promptness and 
regularity of the system introduced into it, and this, of itself, was a suffi- 
cient motive to cau^e him to persevere in the course his judgment had adopted. 

Such was the condition of affairs at the moment when Ephraim Giles, 
breathless with speed, and fancying the party of Winnebagoes close upon his 
heels, made his entry into the Fort. The news he brought was of a na'.ure 



20 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

to assemble the oflScers, as well as many of the men and women, all anxious 
to hear the details of an occurrence, which now, for the first time since their 
arrival at the Fort, had created serious apprehension. But there was one 
of the party who manifested more than ordinary uneasiness. His impati- 
ence was great, and, after liaving whispered a few words in the ear of 
Captain Headley, and received an affirmative reply, coupled with an injunc- 
tion of cantion, he left the building in haste, and proceeded towards the 
block-houses, where, selecting half a dozen men, and ordering them to arm 
on the instant, he passed with them through the gate — sprang into a large 
scow which was unchained from its moorings, on the bank of the river, and 
pulled in the direction of the house already said to have been occupied by 
the wife and daughter of Mr. Heywood. 

Meanwhile, Captain Headley closely interrogated the fugitive as to the 
number and appearance of the Indians who had created all this alarm, their 
probable object in visiting tlie farm in this .seemingly hostile manner, and 
the number of shots he had heard fired. To all these questions the soldier, 
who had now, in some degree, recovered from his panic, replied in the usual 
drawling tone, his stick and knife, which had been drawn forth again from 
his pocket, in which he had deposited them in crossing from the farm-house, 
affording him his usual amusement, but nothing, of course, was elicited 
beyond what has already been related. Whether any one had been killed in 
the house, or the guns merely discharged to frighten the fugitive, or that the 
reports had proceeded from the fishing party that had been sent for, with a 
view to alarm the Indians, and deter them from the commission of outrage, 
were surmises that severally occurred to Captain Headley, but without ena- 
bling him to arrive at any definite opinion. That there was cause for 
apprehension, there was no doubt. The appearance of a baud of strange 
Indians in the neighborhood, however small in number, dressed in their 
war-paint, gave earnest of coming trouble, not only through their own acts, 
but through the influence of example on the many other tribes whom they 
had been accustomed to look upon as friends and allies. In the mid.st of 
these reflections arose a feeling of self-gratul^tion that he had preserved that 
discipline and strict attention to duty, which, he knew, that all must now 
admit to have been correct, and which, if any diflSculty did occur, could not 
fail to prove of the utmost importance. 

His first consideration now was the safety of the small fishing party, to 
which allusion has more than once been made in the preceding pages, and 
which it was a source of satisfaction to him to recollect were, in accordance 
with an order never departed from on these and similar excursions, fur- 
nished with the necessary arms and ammunition, although only in their 
fatigue dress. 

" Mr. Elnisley," he said turning to that officer, who stood waiting his 
orders, " who commands the fishing party?" 

" Corporal Nixon, sir,"*i-eplii.d the lieutenant, at once entering into his 
motive for the inquiry, " a brave, but discreet soldier, and oue who, I am 
sure, will evince all neoes.sary resolution, should he see anything of these 
Indians. The men who are with him are also fine young fellows, and 
among our best shots." 



TUB FALL OF CHICAGO. ' 21 

" I ara glad to hear this," was the rejoinder, " but still, twelve Indians tir- 
ing from the woods upon half their number in an opeu boat, and taken by 
Burprise, would, I fear, render the activity, courage, and skill of these lat- 
ter but of little avail. My hope is, that Corporal Nixon may see nothing of 
them, hut that, on the contrary, if he has been apprised by the boy, as the 
fellow says he was to be, of their presence at Heywood's farm, he will make 
his way back without stopping, or at least, use every precaution to conceal 
himself, until he can drop down under cover of the darkness." 

" Wliat, sir," said the lieutenant, witli a surprise he could ill conceal, 
"would you desire him not to afiford the necessary succor to Mr. Hey wood, 
if, indeed, he sluuild be in time to render any service?" 

" Mr. Elrnsley," remarked his captain, somewhat sternly, " my sympathy 
for the fate of those at the farm, is, perhaps quite as strong as yours, but I 
have a higlier stake at issue— a higlier object than tlie indulgence of personal 
sympathy. I can ill afford, threatening as appearances are at this moment, 
to risk the lives of six men, tlie best you say in the fort, out of the very 
small force at my disposal. Nothing must be left undone to secure their 
sjifety. Order a gun to be fired imTnediately from the southern bastion. It 
will be distinctly heard by the party, and if not already apprised of the exist- 
ing danger they will at once understand the signal. Moreover the report 
may have the effect of alarming the savages." 

Lieutenant Ehnsley witlidrew to execute the order, and soon after the dull 
booming of a cannon vfas heard reverberating ftiroughout the surrounding 
woods, and winding its echoes along the waters of the narrow and tranquil 
Chicago. So unusual an event as tiiis excited a good deal of speculation, 
not only among the inmates of tlie Fort, but among the numerous friendly 
Indians encamped without, who, \\'!iolly unacquainted with the cause of the 
alarm, were, by the strict orders of Captain Headley, kept ignorant of the 
information of which Ephraim Giles had been the bearer — 

That night there was a more tlian usual vigilance exercised by the senti- 
nels, and although the rest of the garrison were exempt from extraordinary 
duty, the watchful and anxious commanding officer slept not until dawn. 



CHAPTER HI. 

At a distance of about two miles above Heywood's farm, and on the south- 
ern branch of the Chicago, which winds its slightly serpentine course 
between the wood and the priiirie. Tlieie was at tlie period of which we 
treat, a small deep hay formed by two adjacent and densely wooded points 
of land, in the cool shades of which the pike, the black bass, and the pick- 
erel loved to lie in the heat of summer, and where, in early spring, though in 
less numbers, they were wont to congregate. This was the ciistojnary fishing 
spot of the garrison — six men and a iion-commissionod officer, repairing there 
almost daily, with their ample store of lines and spc.'us, as much, although 
not avowedly, for their own amusement, as for the supply of the otiicer's 
table. Wliat remained, after a certain division among these, became tha 

a 



22 HARDSCRABKI.B ; OR, 

property of the captors, wlio, after appropriating to themselves what was 
necesi^ary for their next day's meal, distributeJ the rest among the non-com- 
missioned, and men of the company. As the seasou advanced, and the fish 
became more plenty, there wis little limitation of quantity, for the freight, 
nightly brought home, and taken witli the line and spear alone, was suffi- 
cient to afford every one abundance. In truth, even in tlie depth of winter, 
there was little privation endured by the garrison — the fat venison brought in 
and sold for the veriest trifle by the Indians — t!ie luscious and ample prairie 
hen, cliietiy shot by the officers, and the fisli we have named, leaving no 
necessity for consumption of the salt food with which it was but indifferently 
stored. 

Ou the day on which our narrative has commenced, the usual fishing party 
had ascended the river at an early hour, for the newness of the season and 
the shortness of the days rendered it an object that they should be on the 
accustomed haunt as soon as possible. They had left the Fort at daylight, 
passing Heywood's farm at the moment when, for the purpose of foddering 
the cattle on the opposite bank, he, with the boy Wilton, was crossing in the 
very canoe in which Ephraim Giles afterwards ma<le his escape — the latter 
with the Canadian, being engaged in felling trees higher up the river. 

Arrived at the little bay to which we have just adverted, the boat was 
fastened to the gnarled trunk of a tree, which jirojected over the deep water 
at the nearest point, and the party, taking with them their fishing rods, baits, 
and haversacks, but leaving tlieir spears and muskets in the boat, dispersed 
themselves at short distances along the curve that formed the bay, which, 
however, was not more than three hundred yards in extent, from point to 
point. 

When they first cast their lines into the water, the sun's rays were clearly 
visible tlirough the thick wood in their rear. The early morning, too, had 
been cold — almost frosty — so much so, that the wild ducks, which generally 
evinced a good deal of shyness, now, seemingly emboldened by the brskiness 
of the atmosphere, could be seen gliding about in considerable numbers, 
about half a mile below them ; wliile the fish, ou the contrary, as though 
dissatisfied with the temperature of their element, refused lo do what the 
men called " the amiable," by approaching the hook. Their occupation had 
been continued until long past mid-day, during which time not more than a 
dozen fish had been taken. Vexed at his ill luck, fur he had not had even a 
nibble, one of the men flung his rod upon the bank, impatiently, and then, 
seating himself on tlie projecting root of a large tree, declared it was all 
nonsense to play the fool any longer, and that the most sensible thing they 
could do, was to take tlieir dinners — smoke their pipes — and wasli the wliole 
down with a little of the mouongaliela. 

"I say, Collins," remarked the corporal, good-naturedly, " we shall have 
poor fare for the officers' mess, let alone our own, if we all follow your 
example, and give up sc soon. But, as you say, it's time to have some grub, 
and v/e'll try our luck afterwards." 

" Rome wasn't built in a day," said the man wlio liad been fi-hing next to 
Collins, and drawing in his line also, " we've a good many hours loft yet." 

Following the recommendation of the corporal, the rest of the party sat 



TOE FALL OF CHICAGO. 23 

down on the eJ.se of the bank, and, opening tlicir liavcrfacks, produced each 
his allowance of corn brciid and venison, or salted pork, after dispatching 
whicli, with tlie aid of tlieir clnsp knives, tliey took a refret^hing " liorn " 
from tlie generiil canteen that Collins carried suspended over his shoulder, 
and then drew forth and lighted their pipe-!. 

As the latter puffed away with a vigor that proved either a preoccupied 
mind, or extreme gratification with the weed, he cast his ej-es carelessly down 
the stream, where a large description of duck, called by the French natives 
of the country, the cou rortge^ from the color of their necks, were disporting 
themselves as though nothing in the shape of a fire arm was near them— 
now diving — now rising on their feet, and shaking their outstretched wings, 
now chasing each other in limited circles, and altogetlier so apparently 
emboldened by their immunity from interruption, as to come close to the 
bank, at a distance of little more than fifty yards from the spot where he sat. 

" It's very ridiculous," he at length remarked, pouring forth at the same 
time, an unusual volume of smoke, and watching the curling eddies as they 
rose far above his head — " it's very ridiculous, I say, the captin's order that 
we sha'nt fire. Look at them ducks — how they seem to know all about 
it, too!" 

" By gosh !" said another, " I've a good notion to fetch my musket, and 
have a slap into them. Shall I, corporal ?" 

" Certainly not. Green," was the answer. "If it was known in the Fort 
I had permitted any of the party to fire, I .should be broke, if I did'nt get 
picketed for my j)ains, and none of us would ever get out again." 

" No great harm in that, either," said the man who had made the novel 
observation that Rome had not been built in a day. 

The corporal looked sliarply at the last speaker, as if not fully compre- 
hending his meaning. 

"Jackson means no great harm if we never got out again," interposed 
Collins, " and I think as he does, for I see no fun in rowing fonr or five miles 
to fi.sh, and, scarcely getting a sight of one." 

•' Well, but Collins, that's not always our luck. I'm sure we've had sport 
enough before. It must be because the weatlier's rather cold to-day, that 
the fish won't bite." 

"It's of no use his grumbling, Pliilips," remarked Corporal Nixon, 
" we're here, not so much for own sport as on a duty for the garrison. Let 
me hear no more of tliis, Collins." 

" Well, corporal that's true enough," said Green, " but dash me if it isn't 
temptin' to see them fellows there stealin' upon us, and we looUin' on, and 
doin' nothin'." 

" What fellows do you mean ?" inquired the corporal, suddenly starting to 
Lis feet, and looking down the river. 

" Why, tliem dnck.s to be sure, see how they come sailin' up to us, as if 
they knowcd all about the captin's order — no jnmi)in' or friskin' now, but 
all of a heu]) like." 

"Yes, but I say, what's that black looking thing beyond the ducks?" 
asked one wlio had not hitherto spoken, pointing his finger. 

" Where, where, Weston ?" exclaimed one or two voices, and the speak- 
ers looked in the direction indicated. 



24 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

" nmig me if it isn't a bear," said Collins in a low, anxious tone; "that's 
the chap that has sent the ducks so near us. Do let me have a crack at 
him, corporal. lie's large eiiongh to supply us all with fresh meat for 
three days, and will make up for the bad fishing. Only one shy, corporal, 
and I engage not to miss him." 

Sure enough, there was, in the centre of the stream, a dark object, nearly 
half a mile distant, which all joined in pronouncing to be a bear. It was 
swimming vigorously across to their side of the river. 

" I think we might take him as he lands," observed Green. " What say 
you, corporal ; I reckon you'll let us try that, if you won't let us fire ?" 

" Stay all where you are," was the reply. " I can manage him myself 
with a spear, if I can only be in time before he reaches the shore. If not, 
it's no matter, for I won't allow a trigger to be pulled." 

Corporal Nixon was a tall, active, strong-limbed Virginian. He soon 
cleared the space that separated them from the boat, and jumping to the 
stern, seized one of the fishing spears, and then moved on through the wood 
that densely skirted the bank. But he had not been five minutes gone 
when he again made his appearance, not immediately by the half-formed 
path lie had previously taken, but by a slight detour to the rear. 

"Hist, hist," he said in an audible whisper, as soon as he saw that he was 
perceived, motioning at the same time with his hand to enjoin silence, and 
concealment. Then, beckoning to "Weston to join him, he again moved 
along the path with the light tread of one who fears to alarm an object 
unconscious of interruption. 

All had the sense to understand that there was some good reason for the 
caution of the corporal, and with the exception of Weston, who had 
promptly obeyed the signal, busily, but silently resumed their morning's 
occupation. 

First, a quarter of an hour, and then minute after minute passed slowly 
away, yet there was no sigu of the return of their companions. What could 
be the meaning of this? If the bear had not proved to be too much for 
them, they ought to have killed him, and rejoined them before this. Curi- 
osity, na}', apprehension finally overcame the strong sense of obedience to 
orders, which had been literally drilled into them, and they all, at the sug- 
gestion of Green, dropped their rods on the bank, and moved cautiously in 
the direction that had been taken by the corporal and Weston. Great, how- 
ever, was the surprise of Collins, then a little in advance, when, on nearing 
the spot where the boat lay moored, he beheld, not those of whom they 
were in search, but a naked, and hideously jiainted savage, in the very act of 
untying the rope by which the skiflf was faslened to the knotted and project- 
ing root of the tree. Sensible tliat lliere was impending danger, although 
he knew not of wliat precise kind, inasmuch as there was no reason to 
apprehend anything hostile from the Indians, with all of whom around 
the fort, they had always been on friendly terms, ho sprang forward to 
arrest the movement. But the distance was several rods, and the savage, 
alarmed by the rustling made among the foliage and brushwood in his rear, 
now put Ids shoulder to the boat, and, in the nest instant would have had 
it far across the stream, had nut a hand, suddenly ])rotruded from beneath 
the hollow clump of earth on which the tree grow, grasped him firudy by 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 26 

the ankle, even while in the act of springing into the forcibly impelled skitf. 
In a moment or two, he grappled tightly with his hands npon the bow of 
the boat, bnt, finding the pressure on liis imprisoned limb too great for resis- 
tance, he relinquished his hold, falling upon his lace in the water, from 
which he wa.s dragged, although without violence, by Corporal Nixon, who 
had emerged from his hiding-place. 

When the Indian was sulfered to rise, there was a threatening expression 
on his countenance, which, not even the number of those by whom lie was 
now surrounded could check, and he made an involuntary motion of his hand 
to his scalping knife, the only weapon with which he wa.-^, armed, that lay in 
the sheath dangling from his girdle. Seeing, however, that there was no 
Iiostile disposition manifested by the party, he speedily relinquished his first 
iminilse, and stood upright before them with a bold, but calm look. 

"What you want with boat ?" asked the corporal, almost involuntarily, 
and without the slightest expectation that his question would be understood. 

" Me want 'era cross," replied the Indian, pointing to the opposite woods. 

" But why you come in bear skin ?" and, in his turn, the corporal pointed 
with his finger in the direction in which the supposed bear had been seen. 

" Ugh 1" grunted the savage doggedly, finding that he had been detected 
in his disguise. 

" What nation you ? — Pottawattamie ?" 

"Wah! Pottawattamie I" 

" Curious enough," pursued the corporal, addressing himself to his com- 
rades. " I don't half like the look of the fellow, but I suppose it's all right. 
We musn't offend him. You chief!" he continued, pointing to a large 
silver medal suspended over the breast of the athletic and well-proportioned 
Indian. 

" Yes, me chief. Pottawattamie chief," and he made a sign in the direc- 
tion of the Fort, near which the encampment of that tribe lay. 

'• You friend, then ?" remarked the corporal, extending his hand. 

" Yos, me friend," he answered promptly, brightening up and taking the 
proffered hand ; " you give 'em boat ?" 

" Do you .«ee any thing green in my eye ?" asked the Virginian, incapable, 
even under the circumstances, of repressing the indulgence of his humor. 

But the party questioned, although speakiug a little English, was not 
sufficiently initiated in its elegancies to comprehend this; so, he merely 
answered with a " ugh 1" while the greater portion of the men laughed 
boisterously, both at the wit of the corporal, and at tlie seeming astonish- 
ment it excited. 

This mirth by no moans suited the humor of the Indian. He felt that it 
was directed towards himself, and again he stood fierce, and with a dilating 
frame before them. 

Corporal Kixon at once became sensible of his error. To affront one of 
the friendly chiefs would, he knew, not only compromise the interests of the 
garrison, but incur the severe displeasure of the commanding officer, who 
had always enjoined the most scrupulous abstinence from any thing offensive 
to them. 

" I only meant to say," he added, as he again extended his hand. " 1 



26 HARDSCRABBLB ; OR, 

can't give 'em boat. White chief," and he pointed in the direction of the 
Fort, " no let me." 

" Ugh !" exclaimed the Indian, his stern features again brightening up with 
a last hope. " 'Spose come with Injin if" 

For a moment or two, the corporal hesitated whether or not to put the 
man across, but when he reflected on the singular manner of his advent, and 
other circumstances connected with his appearance among them, his custom- 
ary prudence came to his aid, and while avoi:ling all ground for offence by 
his mode of refusal, he gave him peremptorily to understand that there was 
an order against his suffering the boat to leave its present station. 

Again the countenance of the Indian fell, even while his quick eye rolled 
incessantly from one to the other of tlie gronp. " You no give 'em boat^ 
Injin swim," he at length observed. 

" Just as you please," answered corporal Nixon. " By and bye, sogers go 
to the Fort — take Injin with 'em." 

" Wah ! Injin cross here," and as he spoke, lie sprang again to the bow 
of the boat, and at a single bound cleared the intervening space to the very 
etern. 

Several heavy splashes in the water- -a muttered curse from the corporal 
— some confusion among his men, and the savage was seen nearly half-way 
across the river, swimming like an eel to the opposite shore. 

"Damn the awkward brute!" exclaimed the former, angrily. "How 
many muskets are there overboard, Jackson ?" 

" Only three — and two cartouch boxes." 

" Only three indeed I I wish the fellow had been at old Nick, instead of 
coming here to create all this confusion. Is the water deep at the stern ?" 

" Nearly a fathom I reckon," was the reply. 

" Then, my lads, yon must look out for other fish to-day. Jackson, can 
you see the muskets at the bottom ?" 

" Not a sign of them, corporal," answered the man, as lying flat on the 
boat, he peered intently into the water. " The bottom is covered with 
■weeds, and I can just see the tails of two large pikes wriggling among them. 
By Gimini, I think if I had my rod here, I could take them both !" 

"Never mind them," resumed the corporal, again delivering himself of a 
little wit ; " muskets will be of far more use to us just now than pikes. We 
must fish them up — there will be the devil to pay if we go home without 
them." 

" Then there's no other way than diving for them," said Jackson, still 
looking downwards. " Not even the glitter of a barrel can I see. They 
must have buried themselves in the weeds. I say, Weston," slightly raising 
his head and turning his face to the party named, " You're a good diver?" 

" Yes, and Collins is better than me." 

" Well then, here's at it," resumed Jackson, rising and commencing to 
strip. " It's only by groping and feeling that we can find the arm.s, and 
when once we've tumbled on 'em, it will be easy enough to get 'em up with 
one hand, while we swim with the other. We must plunge here from the 
stern," he added, as the men whom he had named jumped on board and 
commenced stripping themselves. 



TilK KALL OF i;HlCAi:0. 27 

"ilow curae llie Injin to knock the muskets overboard, Corporal?" inquired 
one of tbe party who had not yet spoken — a fat, portly man, with a long 
hooked nose, and a peaked cliin. 

" I'm dashed," replied Nixon, " if I can tell myself, though I was looking 
at hira as he jnmpcd from one end of the boat to the otlier. All I know is, 
the firelocks were propped against tbe stern of the boat as we placed them, 
with the backs of the cartouch boxes slung under tlie ramrods, and I suppose, 
for I don't know how else it could be done, that instead of alighting on the 
seat, he must have passed it, and putting his foot on the muzzles, tipped them 
with the weight of his body, head over heels into the water." 

" Corporal," ventured Collins, as he removed his last garment, " yon asked 
that painted chap if he saw anything green in yonr eye. Now, that's as it 
may be, but hang me, if it wasn't a little green to take him for a Pottowat- 
tamic?" 

" And bow do you know he was'nt a Pottowattamie ? Who made yon a 
judge of Indian flesh ?" retorted tbe corporal, with an air of dissatisfactioD. 
•' Didn't he say he was, and didn't he wear a chief's medal ?" 

" Say ? Yes, I'll be bound lie'd say and wear anything to gull us, but I'm 
sure he's no Pottowattamie. I never seen a Pottowattamie of that build. 
They are tall, thin, skinny, bony fellows — while this chap was square, stout, 
broad-shouldered, and full of muscle." 

Corporal Nixon pondered a little, because half-convinced, but would not 
acknowledge that he could have been mistaken. " Are you all ready ?" he 
at length inquired, anxious, hke most men, when driven into a corner on one 
topic, to introduce another. 

" All ready," answered Jackson, taking the first plange in the direction in 
which he knew the muskets must have fallen. 

Before following his example, the others waited for his report. This was 
soon made. He had got hold of one of the muskets, and partly Hfted it from 
its bed, but tbe net-work of strong weeds above it, opposing too much resist- 
ance, he had been compelled to quit bis hold, and came to the .surface of the 
water for air. 

" Here's for another trial," shouted Collins, as be made his plange in the 
same direction. In a few seconds ho too, reappeared, bearing in his right 
hand, not a firelock, but the two missing cartouch boxes. 

" Better luck next time," remarked corporal Nixon. " I think my lads, 
if two of you were to separate the weeds with your liands, so as to clear 
each musket, tbe other might ea.sily bring it up." 

The suggestion of the corpora! was at once acted upon, bat it was not, 
until after repeated attempts had been made to liberate the arms from their 
web-like canopy, that two were finally brought up and placed in the boat. 
The third they groped for in vain, until at length, the men, dispirited and 
tired, declaned it was utterly useless to prosecute the search, and that the 
other musket must be given up as lost. 

This, however, did not suit the views of the correct corporal. He said, 
pointedly, that he woold almost as soon return without his head as without 
his arms, and that the day having been thus far spent without the accom- 
plishment of the object for which they were tliere, he was determined to 



28 HAKDSCRABBI.E ; OB, 

devote the remainder to the search. Not being a bad diver himself, althongh 
he had not hitherto deemed it necessary to add his exertions to those of his 
comrades, he now stripped, desiring tlioso wlio liad preceded liini to throw 
on their sliirts and rest tlieraselves for another plunge, when he should liave 
succeeded in finding out -where the missing musket had lodged. 

" What's that?" exclaimed Jackson, pointing to a small, dark object, of a 
nearly circular shape, which was floating about half way between the 
surface of the place into which the divers had plunged, and the weeds 
below. 

His companions turned their eyes in the directiou indicated, but, almost 
immediately after Jackson had spoken, it had disappeared wholly from view. 

" What did it look like ?" asked the corpora!. 

" It must have been a mush rat," returned Jackson, " tliere's plenty of 
them about here, and I reckon our diving has disturbed the nest." 

Corporal Nixon now took his leap, but some paces farther out from the 
shore than his companions had ventured upon theirs. Tiie directicm was the 
right one. Extending his arms as he reached a space entirely free from 
■weeds, his right hand encountered the cold barrel of the musket, but as he 
sought to glide it along, in order that he might grasp the butt, and thus drag 
it endwise up, his hand disturbed some hairy substance which rested upon 
the weapon causing it to float slightly upwards, until it came in contact with 
his naked breast. Now, the corporal was a fearless soldier whose nerves 
were not easily shaken, but the idea of a nasty mush rat, as they termed it, 
touching his person in this manner, produced in hira unconquerable disgust, 
even while it gave him the desperate energy to clutch the object with a 
nervous grasp, and without regard to the chance of being bitten in the act, 
by the small, sharp teeth of the animal. His consternation was even greater 
when, on enclosing it within his rough palm, he felt the whole to collapse, 
as tkough it had been a heavy air-filled bladder, burst by the compression 
of his fingers. A new feeling — a new chain of ideas now took possession 
of liim, and leaving the musket where it was, he rose near the spot from 
■which he first started, and still clutching his hairy and undesirable prize, 
threw it from him towards the boat, into the bottom of which it fell, after 
grazing the cheek of Collins. 

"Pooh! pooh! pooh," spluttered the latter, moving as if the action was 
necessary to disembarrass him of the unsightly object no longer there. 

A new source of curiosity was now created, not only among the swimmers, 
but the idlers ■who were smoking their pipes and looking carelessly on. All 
now, without venturing to touch the loathsome looking thing, gathered 
around it endeavoring to ascertain really what it was. 

" What do you make of the creature?" asked corporal Nixon, who, now 
ascending the side of the boat, observed how much the interest of his men 
had been excited. 

" I'm sure I can't say," answered Jackson. '• It looks for all the world like 
a rat, only the hair is so long. Dead enough though, for it does not budge 
an inch." 

" Let's see what it is," said the man with the long hooked noso, and th& 
peaked chin. 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 29 

By no means aDxioas, however, to touch it with hia hands, he took up the 
Bpcar and turned over and over the clammy ami motionless mass. 

" Just as I thought," exclaimed the corporal, with a shudder, as the wea- 
pon tinfoUling the whole to view, disclosed alternately the moistened hair and 
thick and bloody skin of a human head. 

" Gemini," cried Jackson, how came this scalp here, it has been freshly 
taken — -this very day — yet how could it get here?" 

" Depend upon't," said Green, " that chief that was here just now, could 
tell somethin' about it, if he had a mind." 

"Then lie must have had it in his breech-cloth," remarked the corporal 
seriously, for not a rag besides had he about him." No, no it conldn't be 
him, and yet its very strange." 

" Of course it couldn't be him," maliciously interfered Collins, who bad so 
far conquered his first disgust, as to take the object of discussion into his own 
hands, " for you know he was a Pottowattamie, and therefore wouldn't scalp 
for the world." 

"But whose can it be?" resumed Jackson, and how did it get here. I 
am sure its that of a boy." 

" Could it have floated here from the farm?" half questioned Green mus- 
ingly. "Somethin' struck me like shots from that quarter, about an hour 
before the Injin swam across, and dash me, now I recollect it, I'm sure I 
Leard a cry, just after the corporal left us to go after that bear." 

" Nonsense," said the Virgini.-m, " how could it float against the stream, and 
as for the shots you think you heard, you must have taken Ephraim Giles's 
axe blows for them. Besides, you couldn't hear shots at that distance. If 
you did, it must be from some of the hunters." 

" But the cry, corporal," urged Jackson, " what say you to the cry Green 
says he heard when you left us?" 

" All stuff; did anybody else hear it besides Green, yon were all sitting on 
the bank with him?" 

No one answering in the afiirraative, Corporal Nixon declared the thing 
to be impossible, or he should have heard it too; nor could he see what 
connection there was between that cry — supposing there had been one — and 
the facts that had come immediately under their own observation. 

" Hist," interrupted Collins, placing one hand upon the speaker's shoulder, 
and with the other directing his attention to what, now seen by Uio whole 
of the party, was ill calculated to re-assure them. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged wood, that 
skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed from view, Corporal 
Nixon now beheld the crouching forms of several armed Indians, nearly 
naked, and evidently in war costume. They were following the serpentine 
course necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking cautiously to estab- 
lish themselves behind cover on the very verge of the bank. 



30 ' HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

" Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there," exclaimed the 
Virginian tlie moment that his glance had taken in tlie scene, "out witli 
the arms, and divide the dry ammunition. Collins, you are a smart fellow, 
do you and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight, and dry the 
muskets as fust as you can. There are twelve pounds in eaoli of the five 
remaining cartouch boxes, these will do for a spell. Jackson, Pliilip,«, tree 
yourselves, while Cass lies flat in the stern, and keeps a good look out on 
the devils, without exposing himself. Now, my lads, do all tliis very 
quietly, and as if you didn't think there was danger at hand. If they see 
any sign^ of fear, they will pitch it into you directly. As it is, they are only 
waiting to settle themselves, and do it at their leisure." 

" Pity they don't make a general of you, corporal," remarked Collins, as 
he proceeded quietly with Green to the execution of the duty assigned to 
them. " I guess Washington himself couldn't better command a little army. 
Is your batile order finished, general?" 

"None of your nonsense, master Collins, this is no time for jesting. Go 
and dry these arms, and when you have them so that they can send a bul- 
let from their throats, join Jackson and Philips in covering the boat. Wes- 
ton and I will take up our first station." 

And in less time than we have taken to describe the cause of the alarm, 
and the instructions given in consequence, the men had hastened to execute 
the several duties assigned to them on shore, while Cass remained, not only 
with a view of showirig the Indians that the boat was not wlioUy unguarded, 
bnt to be enabled to inform his comrades, who could distinctly hear him 
■without rendering any particular elevation of the voice necessary, of any 
important movement on the part of the former. This quietude of arrang- 
ment on the part of Corporal Nixon had, seemingly, been not without effect. 
It was evident that the Indians had no suspicion that they had been seen, 
and even when the men coolly quitted the boat, they showed no impatience 
indicative of an impression that the party were seeking to shield themselves 
from an impending danger. 

" This silence is strange enough," said the corporal to his companion, after 
they had been some minutes secreted in the cavity from which the depart- 
ure of the Indian with the boat had been arrested. "I almost wish they 
would fire a shot, for that would at once tell ns how to act, and what we are 
to expect, whether they are friendly Indians or not." 

But no shot was fired, and from the moment when the men quitted tho 
boat, and took up their positions, everything had continued silent as the 
grave on the opposite shore, and not thb vestige of an Indian could be seen. 

"But for that scalp," again remarked the corporal, "I should take the 
party to have been friendly Indians, perhaps just returned from a butTalo 
hunt, and come down to the water to drink. They are surely gone again." 

"Look there," said Weston, in a subdued tone, while he placed his hand 
on the shoulder of his superior, as both lay crouched in their hiding-place, 
"look there, corporal," and he pointed with his finger to the opposite bank. 
" Do you see that large, blackish log lying near the hickory, and witli its 
end towards us?" 

"I do— what of it?" 



THE KAl.l. (IK CHICAGO. 31 

" Well, don't you see somethiug crouchiug like between the log and the 
tree — something close up to both. See! it moves now a little." 

Corporal Ni.\on strained his gaze in the direotiou indicateil, but wad 
obliged to admit that, although he distinctly enoufih saw the log and the 
tree, he could not discern any between thing them. 

" Note, do you see it ?" again eagerly inquired Woston, a.-*, at that moment, 
tlio same animal was seen tu turn itself within the very limited space which 
bad been indicated. 

" Yes, I see it now," replied the Virginian, " but it's as likely to be a hog 
as a man, for anything I can make of that shape; a hog that has been filling 
his skin witli hickory nuts, and is but now waking out of his sleep. Still, as 
the lujins were there just now, it may be that if they're gone, they've left a 
spy behind them. We'll soon know how matters stand, for it won't do to 
remain here all night. Cass," addressing the man in the boat who was 
seated low in the stern, only occasionally taking a sly peep, and immedi- 
ately withdrawing his head, '' place your cap on the rudder, and lie flat in 
the bottom. If they are there, and mean to fire at all. thoy will try their 
hands at that. " 

" I hope they are good marksmen, corporal," replied the man, as raising 
his right arm, he removed his forage cap and placed it so that the npper 
half only could be seen. " I've no great fancy for those rifle bullets, and 
give them a wide berth when I can." 

" Now are you convinced ?" asked Weston, addressing the corporal, a.s 
both distinctly saw the object upon which their attention had been anxiously 
fixed, raise his head and shoulders, while he deliberately rested his rifle 
against the log on his right. 

" Close down, Cass — don't move," enjoined the Virginian ; "' the bait haii 
taken, and wo shall have a shot presently." 

Two almost imperceptible jets of spiral smoke, and crack, crack, went 
two rifles, while simultaneously with the report, fell back into the boat, the 
perforated forage cap. Both balls bad passed through it, and lodged in the 
heart of the tree to which the skiii" was moored, and behind which Jackson 
and Philips had taken their stand. 

Evidently believing that they had killed a man, the whole of the band, 
hitherto concealed behind logs and trees, now rose to their feet, and uttered 
a fierce and triumphant yell. 

" Devilish good firin', that," remarked Green, whose face had been touched 
by a splinter of bark torn from the tree by one of the balls. 

"Don't imcover yourselves, my lads," hastily commanded the corporal; 
" all the fellows want now is to see us exposed, that they may have a crack 
at us." 

" We've dried the muskets after a fashion," said Collins, as he now 
approached Jackson and Philips. " Give us a cartridge, and let's see if we 
can't match the varmint at that sort of work." Then, having loaded, he, 
without a-sking the corporal's permission, leaned his musket against the tree, 
and taking a steady aim at the man who had fired from the point first noticed 
by Weston, drew the trigger. 
The shot had evidently taken efiect, for two other Indians were now seen 



32 HARDSCRABBLB ; OK, 

going to the jiBsistance of their comrade, whom they raised from the grouud 
(wliore all had secreted themselves after the yell), and harried to the rear. 

A loud cheer burst from the lips of Collins, wliich was answered immedi- 
ately by the wliole of the savagis, who, from various contiguous points, 
sprang again to their feet, and vociferating the war-whoop, dashed into the 
river nearly up to their necks, seemingly thirsting to overcome the only 
obstacle which prevented tliem from getting at their desired victims. 

But, at the very moment, when several of them were holding their rifle.s 
aloft with their right hand, securing their powder-horns between their teeth, 
while Corporal Nixon issued to his men injunctions not to pull another 
trigger until the .ravages should begin to swim, to the astonisliment of all, 
came the sullen and unusual booming of the cannon from the Fort. 

For a moment, the wen, taking their eyes oft" the sights of their muskets, 
listened attentively for a repetition of llie shot, but no second report reached 
their ears. 

" That," said Green, " was a warnin' for us." 

" It was," observed tlie corporal. " Had the danger been there, they would 
have fired again. Depend upon it, my lads, there's more going on about 
here than wo tliink. So don't throw away your ammunition. Every bullet 
yon send must tell!" 

" Well, we can bnt sell our scalps as dearly as possible," interposed Collins, 
who had again loaded, and was now in the act of raising and supporting his, 
musket against the tree. " Bnt look — see how the fellows are stealing off?' 

" Don't fire, then, don't fire," hastily enjoined the corporal. " If they 
will go quietly, let them. We must not lose our time dallying here, but 
make our way back to the Fort. That gun w.is meant to recall us, as well 
as to warn us, and luckily it has friglitened the Indians, so they won't care 
to attack us again." 

Meanwhile the band of Winnebagoes, obeying, as it seemed, the command 
of their leader, whom Collins swore he could identify from his figure, even 
at that distance, to be the man who had attempted to carry off the boat, 
quitted the river for the cover of the woods, and, after an earnest consulta- 
tion, retreated slowly in the direction of the prairie, without clamor of any 
description. 

" Well rid of them, if they are gone," exclaimed the corpora), not a little 
relieved by their departure. " We must keep a sharp look out though, and 
see if they return." 

" How many of them are tliere ?" asked Jackson ; " can yon give a guess, 
Collins?" 

" About a dozen I should say — indeed I counted as many as they passed 
through the small patch of clearing made by Eph. Giles's axe." 

" Can they have started for the farm ?" observed the corporal musingly ; 
" if so, my lads, we had better get away as soon as possible, for there they 
will find canoes to cross." 

" Why, snre they can swim across well enough. The river is not so wide 
as to prevent them from doing it on a pinch," remarked Philips. 

" Of course they can," answered Collins, " but not without having their 
rifles as well soaked as our muskets were a little while ago. I say, corporal, 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 33 

I understand now the trick of tliat cunning chief. Ho jumped upon tlie 
arms purposely to overturn thein into the river, when he found lie couldn't 
get the hoat, ami all our firelocks over with him." 

" Yes, that was a trick," remarked Jackson, " but, corporal, you havn't 
told ns how the dickens that fellow came there, instead of the bear you 
went to spear." 

" There is no time to talk about it, seriously rejoined the Virginian. Some 
night wlien we are on guard, I will tell you what little I know. x\t present 
let us see to getting back to our post. OoUina, you are the crack shoi of the 
party, are you lo.ided ?" 

" I am, corporal," returned the man somewhat self-sufficiently, "have yon 
got another Injin for me to sink. If so, just point him out, and if this good 
barrel of Uncle Sam's don't do his job in no time, I'll give up all claim to 
having hit the first fellow." 

" Not just yet," answered his superior, " but hear my orders. You'll follow 
the p.ith along the bank, and move along carefully, until you reacli Hey- 
wood's stacks. Conceal yourself behind one of them, until we come down 
with the boat, and keep a, sharp lookout on all that yon see passing in and 
round the farm. Now remember, Collins, not a shot, unless it be to save 
your life, or else you will get us all into a scrape." 

"Never fear me. General Nixon, and he touched his cap with all the 
respect he would have accorded to an officer of that rnnk. I brought one of 
the imps down, and that, I reckon, is nearly as good work for one day, as 
filling the old boat with fish, or having a slap at tbein ducks, as I wanted 
this morning. But now I'm off', if I see anything shall I halloo out, and let 
you know there's danger ?" 

" Not by a long chalk," returned the corporal. " AH I want you to do is to 
keep your tongue in your head and your eyes open. If you see any- 
thing to .alarm you, come back quietly and let us know. We shall bo mov- 
ing down close to the bank of the river ; and now start." 

Collins threw his musket to the trail, and advanced cautiously, though 
fearlessly, along the scarcely perceptible pathway — interrupted at every third 
or fourth step by creeping vines that protruded from the earth, and rendered 
it necessary, in order to prevent his trip[)ing, that he should raise his feet 
somewhat in the manner of a horse with tlie string-halt. 

He had not procei ded half a mile, wlien, at an angle of the ill-defined 
patli, formed by a ])oint where the river w.is the narrowest, ho was startled 
at the sight of :i human body lying across his course, evidently on its face, 
though the liead was concealed from view by the trunk of a large tree that 
bordered upon the road. Ilis first impulse was to turn back and acquaint 
the corporal with wliat he had discovered; but a few minutes of reflection 
satisfying him of ilie ridicule he should incur in reiiorting, without being able 
to state with accuracy on what, he boldly ailvanced. On approaching it, lie 
found th.1t tlie body w.is lifeless, while from the red and scalplcss licad, pre- 
viously hidden from his view, were exuding gouts of thick blood that trickled 
slowly over the pale features of a youth of tender age, the expression of 
which had been worked up into an intensity of (error, and there remained. 
At a few paces from the head, and close upon the edge of tho b.ink, lay a 



34'' DARDSCRABBLS ; OR, 

dressed bear skin which had evidently been saturated witli water, bnt was 
now fast drying in the air and what little sunliglit was occasionally thrown 
lipou it, through the dense brandies of the furest. 

There are situations in which the mind is moved to do that from 
which in cooler moments it would shrink witli dir^gust. It chanced that 
Collins had retained the scalp so singularly found at the bottom of the river, 
by Corporal Nixon, and this circumstance at once determined him. 

Instead of hastening by an object so appalling, Collins rested his mu^-ket 
against a tree, and taking the scalp from between the rainrod and the stock, 
where he had introduced it, knelt by the body, and spreading out the humid 
skin to its fullest extent, applied it to the bleeding excavation. As he had 
suspected, they corresponded exactly, making all due allowance for the time 
they had been separated, and he had no longer a doubt tliat the mutilated boy 
was Mr. Heywood's help, "Wilton. A much more important discovery than 
this, however, resulted from his vain endeavor to recognise the boy from 
liis features, they were so contracted by terror, as has already been said, and 
so covered with blood a-s to be undistinguishable. But on turning him npon 
his ba(fU, and passing his hands over his face, Collins was surprised to find 
that there was not that icy chill which he had expected, but on tlje contrary 
the faint warmth that indicates suspended animation ; and deeper yet was 
the gratification of the rude soldier, when, on opening the shirt and placing 
his hand on the heart of the boy, he felt an occasional spasmodic pulsation, 
denoting that life wa.s not utterly extinct. 

With an eagerness to preserve life, strongly in contrast with his recent 
exultation in destroying it, his anxiety for the recovery of the boy was 
almost paternal. Fortunately the latter part of the day had been free from 
the chilliness of the morning, so tliat, although the naked skull must have 
been some hours exposed, the comparatively bland state of the atmosphere 
gave fair earnest that the brain itself, even if affected, liad not sustained a 
mortal injury. Spreading wide the scalp in his open palm, Collins now 
breathed heavily upon it, until it attained what he conceived to be the 
necessary warmth, when gently applying it to the denuded crown, to which 
he fitted it as well as he could, he passed his handkerchief, which he had 
removed from his throat, over it, and under the chin of the boy in such a 
manner as to prevent the chill of the approaching night from affecting the 
injured part. Tliis done, he poured through his closed lips a few drops of 
whisky from the canteen, and th.en raising him gently on his left shoulder, 
he rose from his stooping posture, and seizing in his right liand his musket, 
which he continued at the trail, ])ur.sued his route to the haystacks as 
directed. 

In the meantime, Corporal Nixon, with the remainder of the fishing party, 
was slowly descending the river, hugging the eastern shore as closely as possi- 
ble, in order that, if attacked snddenlj', tliey might, on the instant, leap 
into the river, and covering themselves by the boat, fight their enemies at 
less disadvantage. The corporal himself and Weston kept a vigilant look 
out, the one at the bow, the other at tlie stern, wliile the four remaining 
men, Jackson, Pliilips, Green, and Cass pulled so noiselessly that the dip of 
their oars, and their unavoidable jar in the row-locks, could not be heard at 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 



sS'^^ 



a distance of more than ten yards. At this slow riito much time was neces- 
B.'irily cousumed, ao that it was quite d;ii'l< wlien they re:iched Uie traverse 
opposite tlie f'urni, where Ephraim Giles had crossed some hours before, and 
whither Collins had been dispatched to make observations. 

The patience of the latter had been much tried, for it seemed an age liad 
elapsed before his comrades made their appearance. The sun was just sot- 
ting as he reached the innermost haystack, and his anxiety for his charge 
Lad become inten.se. Seeing tlie canoe drawn up on the beach, and the pad- 
dles in it, he had a strong inclination to cross and pmcure some efficient 
relief for the insensible boy, but the silence tliat reigned around the dwell- 
ing awed liim, and he checked the natural impulse. Not a soul was to be 
seen, not a voice to be heard, nut even tlie barking of Loup Garou, tlie 
bleating of a sheep, or the lowing of an ox. What could this mean? and 
was the fate of tlie boy connected with that of the other inmates of the farm ? 
If so, where were they? 

Another consideration induced Collins to suppress his first impulse, and 
that was the apprehension that his strange charge would be detained by Mr. 
Heywood, when his only chance of recovery lay in the speedy examination, 
and dressing his injuries by the surgeon of the garrison. There was no alter- 
native then, but to wait patiently for the arrival of the boat iuto wliich the 
boy could be placed, and so conveyed to the fort. Meanwliile, as the night air 
was becoming chill, and a slight fog rising from the water, the considerate 
soldier did all he could to shield his proteg6 from their pernicious elTect. 
Strewing on the ground a few armfuls of hay, taken from tlie nearest of the 
stacks, around which the hungry cattle now gathered, eager for their food, 
he extended on it the yet inanimate form of tlie ycnth, embracing the body 
in order to impart to it the benefit of animal heat, and in this position, 
his head being slightly raised, eagerly endeavored to discern through the 
darkness not only what might be seen on the opposite shore, but the 
approach of the party in the boat. 

The sun had now been down some lime, and so dark was it that, in that 
narrow space, obscured by the blending shadows of the tall forests on either 
shore, it was difficult, at five yards distance, to make out anytliing on the 
water, unaccompanied by light or sound. Tliis sileiics was anything but 
agreeable to Collins, whose imagination, excited by the later occurrences of 
tlie day, was filled with strange misgivings, as he looked in vain for the cus- 
tomary lights in the farm-house. The fishing jiarty had never been out so 
late, and yet, at the fir.st fall of darkness, they had bi'on accustomed to see 
the place exhibiting at least one light; and the absein'O of this now caused 
Collins heartily to wish himself in the boat, and safely moored under cover 
of the fort. Not that the soldier was irifliionced by the apprehension of 
personal danger, but because the deep gloom, the solitude and silence of the 
scene, coupled with ins newly-awakened interest in the almost corpse that 
lay in close contact with his person, im])ressed him with a sort of supersti- 
tious feeling, not at all les>ened by the knowledge that his only companion, 
at that moment, belonged rather to the grave than to the uiiper eartii. 

At length his anxiety was relieved. The sound of the oars, cautiously 
pulled, faintly met his oar, and then the boat could bo indistinctly seen 



36 HARDSCRABBLK ; OR, 

approaching the canoe. To tliis succeeded a low call uttered by the corporal. 
Collins replied in a similar tone, and then bearing tlie budy of tlie boy, still 
enveloped in the bear slcin, he in less than a minnte, rejoined his party. 

The astonishment of the latter may be conceived on beholding so unex- 
pected a siglit, nor was their feeling of awe diminished when their comrade 
had briefly related what had occurred since he left them. 

" Strange enough, this," remarked the corporal musingly ; " stranger still, 
there's no light in the house. It's neither too early nor too late for tliat. 
I'll tell you what, my lads, if any thing has happened we must know the 
worst — it will never do to go back to the Fort, without being able to give 
some notion of what took place under our very noses." 

" What would Mr. Ronayne say, if we did ?" added Jackson. 

" Yes ! and what would that sweet young lady. Miss Hey wood, think of us, 
if we returned without giving some good news of her father. Why she 
never would look upon us kindly again." 

" Right, Philips," said Weston, " and I'm sure I'd rather oflfend the captaia 
himself, any day, than do anything to displease her. God grant we bring 
her no bad news." 

" Amen," said the corporal, gravely, for he, like Collins, had some strong 
misgivings, arising naturally from the utter darkness and silence that con- 
tinued to prevail in and around the farm-house. "Are you all loaded? 
Look to your primings, but make no noise. Somebody must take charge of 
the boat though. Who volunteers to remain, while the rest follow me to the 
house ?" 

" I do — I'll remain," said Collins, " one of yon can take my musket." 

" What, Collins, do you shirk the thing," sneered the man with the long 
nose and the peaked chin ; "have you had enough to-day, or do you feai 
the ghost of the fellow you knocked over?" 

" I fear neither man or ghost, as you well know, Nutcrackers," warmly 
rejoined Collins, "but I take it, there's no great courage in making a fus? 
about going where there's no enemy to be found. If there has been danger 
in that quarter, I take it, it's passed, and as somebody must stop in the boat., 
why not me as well as another ?" 

" Just so," said the corporal. "Cass, this is no time to run your rigs 
You see well enough that Collins wishes to stop behind, on account of the 
boy he hopes to bring to life. Little chance of that, I fear, but if lie thinks 
60, it would be unchristian to disappoint him. And now push off, but make 
no noise." 

The order was obej'ed. In a few minutes the bow of the boat touched 
the landing-place, when all but Collins, who was at tlie helm, slipped noise- 
lessly ashore. The coi-poral repealed his instructions — how to act undei 
emergency and if. separated — and moved along the path leading to the house 
Meanwhile Collins pulled back into the stream, and remained stationary in 
the centre. 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 8T 



CHAPTER V. 



The farm-liouse was, as we have said, of very rude construction — such a 
one as could only spring up in so remote a region, and annini; so sparse a 
population. With ilie e.xoeption of the roof, tlie frame-work of vvliich had 
been covered with raw buffalo hides, it was built wholly of rough logs, 
notched at the ends in a sort of dove- tail fashion, and when not lying closely, 
tilled in with chunks of wood, over which a rude plaster of mud had been 
thrown, so that the whole was rendered almost impervious to water, while 
it ran little risk from the agency of fire. It had two rooms on the ground- 
floor — one smaller than tlie other, used as a dormitory, and containing all the 
clotlies or " traps," as they designated them, of the household. Tlie other 
served as eating-room, parlor, and kitchen, and extended over, at least, three- 
fourths of the area. It was provided with two doors — one facing the river 
and close to the partition which divided the rooms — the other occupying a 
remoter position to the rear. Tlie windows of this apartment were two in 
number, and, equi-distaut from the doors, were considerably elevated above 
the floor. These apertures had been formed by simply sawing a few of the 
logs, so as to complete squares, into wliich were fitted rude sashes, each con- 
taining four small panes of a greenish, and by no means, transparent glass, 
and connected by strong leathern hinges. In winter the necessary warmth 
was afforded, by shutters put up and barred from within. Tlie southern 
gable or dormitory, was provided in the centre with one window of similar 
size and construction. The upper flour, a sort of granary and depot for tlie 
provisions of the family, was ascended by means of a ladder, and through 
a square aperture just large enough to admit with ease the body of a man. 

There was, in rear of the house, a rather extensive corn-field, and beyond 
the northern gable, where the chimney stood, an orchard yet in its infancy, 
but promising future abundance, while at the opposite, or south end of the 
building, a large but very highly cultivated garden, was now undergoing the 
customary spring process of digging and manuring, and indeed on that very 
morning, Mr. Ueywood had been busily engaged in this occupation with the 
boy Wilton, his men being employed, tlie one in fic-Id labor, the other as we 
have seen, in chopping wood. 

In the rear of the garden, and opposite to the corn-field, from which it 
was separated by a road leading to the wood, was a tolerably sized barn, 
likewise constructed of rude logs, not, however, filled in. The lower part 
of this was used as a stable; the upper or loft, roofed with bark, contained 
the preceding year's unhusked cio]) from the corn-fiel-1, while contiguous to 
it, and to the rear, was another oblong square building, constructed in the 
same manner, but without loft. This, partitione.l and covered simply with 
unhewn logs, served not only as a pen tor sheep and pigs, but as a roosting- 
.[ihice for the feathered portion of the stock. 

The orchard on the one side, and the garden on the other, extended to the 
bank of the river — a zig-zag, or snake-lence separating them from the road, 
in tlie centre of which, and at about ten feet from the door of the dwelling, 

3 



38 lIAKDSCRAIiULS ; OR, 

rose a majestic walnut tree tlien in early blossom. • Immediately beyond tills 
tree, was a low enclosure wliioh intersected the road, passing acmss from the 
kitchen-garden to the orchard, and forming the only court or yard upon the 
premises. 

When Corporal Nixon, with his little party, had cautiously advanced soma 
few paces towards the house, he caused them to separate, Cass and Jackson 
leaping the fence which bounded the orchard, and Green and Philips that 
of the garden, while he himself, with Weston, pursued the pathway in front. 
The better to be prepared for any sudden attack, bayonets had been quietly 
fixed, and the firelocks at the full cock, carried at the trail — this latter pre- 
caution after the detached files had crossed the fences. 

The night, as has already been said, was very dark, and each succeeding 
minute seemed to increase the obscurity, so that it was rather from their 
familiarity with the ground, than from any clear indication of correctness 
of course, that the little band were enabled to preserve their necessary 
unity. At length the tall shadows of the walnut tree came suddenly upon 
the sight of the corporal, but so completely absorbing w'as the darkness in the 
heavier gloom, that, without being aware of its proximity, he stumbled 
against the low and slight enclosure, which, yielding to the impetus of his 
motion, feeble even as that was, caused him to fall forward on his face, hi.s 
musket dropping from his grasp, without, however, going off. 

A low growl from a dog succeeded, and before tlje Virginian could even 
make the attempt to rise, tlie animal had sprang upon and fastened his teeth 
into his shoulder, shaking him so violently, that it was not until Weston, who 
had now crossed the enclosure, came up to his a.ssistance, guided by the 
sound of tlie struggle, that the dog could be made to relinquish his hold. 

" Loup Garou — Loup Garou, old fellow, what's the raatt<«- with you," said 
the latter coaxingly, as he caressed the neck of the dog, wnich he had identi- 
fied, and now sought to appease. 

Evidently recognising a friend in the utterer of his name, the animal 
turned suddenly around, licked the hand of Weston, and then sent forth a 
long and piteous howl. 

"Mercy, what is that?" suddenly exclaimed the corporal, who having 
regained his legs and musket, had moved on a p.ice or two. 

" Where! what?" asked Weston, coming up to his side. 

In the darkness before tliem, there was a deeper darkness th.at bore the 
indistinct appearance of a human form, lying in a stonping posture close to 
the trunk of the tree. 

A vague presentiment of the truth flashed upon the mind of the Virginian, 
who enjoining silence on his companion, advanced close to the object, and 
laid his hand upon it. There could be no longer a doubt. The blanket coat, 
and woollen sash, which he first touched, and then the shoe pack, told him in 
unmistakable language that it was Le Noir, the Canadian owner of the dog. 
He shook him, and twice, in a low voice called him by name. But there 
was no answer, while the body stiff and motionless, fully revealed the fate of 
the unfortunate man. 

Meanwhile, Loup Garou, which had followed, squatted himself at the head, 
which was hanging over the front of what they knew, from its handles and 



TOE FALL OF CHICAGO. 'ih 

tlie peculiar odor, cxlmling from it, to be a wheol-liarrow filled with manure, 
and tlieii commenced licking — moaning at the same time in a low and bro- 
ken wliine. 

" WInit c:in the dog mean by tljat?" whispered Weston. 
" Don't you Ijear him licking his dead master's face, and telling his sorrow 
in ills own way," answered the corporal a?, in order to assure himself, he 
dropped his hand to tlie moutli of tlie dog; but no sooner had he done so, 
than lie drew it suddenly back with a shudder of disgust and hastily wiped 
it, clammy with the blood that yet trickled from the .scaljied head of tlie 
murdered man. 

A low whistle was here given on the left, and a few yards above, that 
Stan led tlie Virginian, for it was the signal agreed upon it anything suspi- 
cious, should be noticed by the other parties. He promptly answered it in 
a dift'erent call, and in another minute Green and Philips had joined him, 

" What have you seeni" he in(jnired, not regarding the exclamation of 
eurprise of the new coiners, at the unexpected sight before them. 

" We've seen notliin' its so dark," answered Green, " but unless the cattle 
have got into the garden,' there's soniethin' else inovin' there. Philips and I 
listened after we heard the dog howl the first time, for we could hear as if 
eemethia' like steps were stopped suddenly when he stopped, then when lie 
moaned the second time we listened again, and thought the same thing." 

"They couldn't be cattle," added Philips, "for the cattle are all kept on the 
other side." 

" Only the young stock, and them as ain't used about the farm," remarked 
Weston. 

" Well, but what kind of steps were they ?" eagerly questioned the corporal, 
whose imagination was filled not more with the danger that seemed to be 
near them, than with the censure of liimself he feared he sliould incur, 
on his return to the fort, for having subjected the party to risk. " Surelj' 
you can tell between the tread of cattle and the steps of men." 

" I should say they weren't the steps of cattle ; they were too light f»r 
that. Though they couldn't help crushin' the dry sticks and rubbish they 
couldn't help seein' lyin' in the way. Don't you think so Philips?" 

" I did, corporal, and so sure did I guess them to be no cattle that it w«i 
me that whistled." 

" Then there's no use in going farther," remarked the Virginian gravely. 
"Even if we get to the house, we can't see anything in it for the darkness, 
and this poor fellow shows plain enough that it's to use looking out to save 
Mr. lieyvvood or Ephraim Giles. Come, my lads, we nmst get back to the 
boat, and down stream as quick and as quiet as we can." 

Giving his own low whistle of recall, he was answered from the opposite 
direction, and in a few minutes Cass and Jackson made their appearance. 

These latter were briefly questioned whether they had seen anything, and 
great was ihe anxiety of all wlien it was known that they had also heard in 
the orchard but in a fainter manner, what had attracted the attention of 
Green and Philips in the garden. 

" Why didn't you give the signal then, as directed?" 

" Because," answered Cass, " we weren't quite sure about it, and feared 
the whistle might tell the Injins, if any were near, our whereabouts." 



40 HARDSURABBLE ; OR, 

Scarce had this explanation been given, wlien tlie ntteniion of all was 
arrested by a loud clear slioiit of the corpurals' name, evidently uttered by 
Collins. 

"Into the house — into the house," exclaimed the same voice. "The 
Injins are creeping up to yon." 

As these words came ringing upon the silence of the night, the dull stops 
in rapid advance through the two enclosures were now distinctly heard, 
while the flash of a gun fired in their rear, lighted up the forms of tliree or 
four savages, gliding up to them by the pathway by wliich the corporal had 
come. 

The danger was imminent, the necessity for securing tlie important posi- 
tion imperative, and without waiting for the order of their superior, or even 
uttering a word, the whole of the party, acting upon the caution of OoUin-j, 
made a rush towards tlie front entrance of the house, which they gained 
at the very moment when the rattling of the snake-fences, and the total 
overthrow of the slight enclosure, announced that their enemies wore thus 
near in pursuit. 

Fortunately the door was wide open, so tbat the^ had all passed in, when 
the Indians on either flank, as though by previous arrangement, poured in 
their cross fire, towards that common centre, without, however, striking any- 
thing but the logs. 

Terrific and continuous yells succeeded, and well wivs it that, with cool 
promptitude, the corporal liad sought, and found behind the door, where he 
knew they were usually kept, the strong bars, three in number, that secured 
the heavy panels, for as many of the Indians as could find room to act 
together, now applied their shoulders to the frame with such violence, that 
but for tiiose timely safeguards, it must have yielded. During more than 
five minutes they persevered in their etforts, the men wailing anxiously in 
attitude of prep.aration for the result, when all at once tliey ceased, and 
tlieir footsteps were heard cautiously retiring. 

" Quick, look to the back-door, two of you," commanded the corporal in 
an eager, but low tone, " they are going round there, if that is not secured 
we are lost." 

Green and Philips sprang forward towards the point indicated, but the 
latter in bis excitement stumbled heavily against something, and fell at his 
length upon the floor, exclaiming: "I've fallen over a dead man, and am 
half drowned in his blood." 

His companion wlio had esc.iped this obstruction, had scarcely time to 
assure the cori)oral that the back door was already barred, a fact which 
ho had discovered by dint of feeling, when the latch was fir^t heard gently 
tried, then the door violently assaidted. Another loud and angry yell from 
the Indians announced their disappointment, then sevend shots were fired 
at the door, and two or three balls cuuld be heard dropping and rolling upon 
the floor, after having p.-isscd through the heavy planks. 

"Safe enough now for a while, my lads," said tlie corporal exnliiiif!ly, 
"and we can have a little breathing time. Who's got the means of striking 
a light, that we may see where we are, and what we're abnut?" 

"I have," answered Green, as taking a flint, steel, and tinder from his 
pocket, he, with a couple of strokes, ignited the latter, and approached the 



THE KALI, OF CHICAGO. 41 

heanli, which tlie faint light from ilie burning " punk " enabled him to reach. 
The fire liad long ^inc•e gone out, but the crisp and blackened embers, soon 
grew under the caie of the soldier into light sufficient to render objects in 
the .■ipartment gridu dly uwvo !ind nio;-o distinguishable. 

While this process was going on, the rest, leaning on their muskets, were 
anxiiiu>ly grouped around the spot where Philips had fallen. At first, only 
the (lUtline of a man of large stature and proportions could be seen lying in a 
cramjied position, as if pioduced by some strong convulsive agony, and then 
when the fire began to kindle and crackle, the dress could be distinguished, 
and then as the liglit grew brighter, the scalpless head, and then the marked 
and distorted features of the murdered master of the house, who lay in a 
pool of blood th.'it slowly trickled along the crevices of the floor. His hands 
were firndy clenched upim the barrel of a rifle which had been broken off at 
the stuck, that now lay a few yards beyond, while the features, sternly set 
in death, bore a mingled expression of defiance and resokition. A cut, as 
from a tomahawk had laid open his left temple, while on several parts of 
Ids body could be seen thick encrustations of blood that had exuded through 
the rent clothing, marking the seat of several stabs and gimshot wounds. 
It was evident that Mr. Ileywood had not lost his life without a desperate 
struggle, for independantly of the testimony afl:orded by his broken rifle, 
whicli he seemed to have used with fierce determination, the heavy table 
had been overthrown, and tlie few articles of necessary furniture in the 
room evidently displaced. 

" What a tale, this, to carry back," gravely remarked Weston. " I wouldn't 
take the corporal's stripes to-morrow, and be the first man to tell Miss Hey- 
wood of it." 

" Supposing we get back at all," said Cass. " Though we're safe enough 
for the present, I've no notion these devils will let us oflT so soon." 

" There's no great danger now," interrupted the corporal. " I defy them, 
if they're not stronger than we .saw them this morning, to get into the Iiouse, 
with six good firelocks to defend it." 

" But tliey may set fire to it, and burn us out," persevered tlie apprehen- 
sive man with the hooked nose and the [leaked chin ; " I've heard of those 
things before." 

" Burn your granny out. Nutcrackers ; look at them logs well, and say if 
it wouUVnt take liell-fire itself to burn 'em through in a month, but corporal, 
liad'iit we better divide the ammunition. We don't know, as Cass says, what 
the''iMips are abimt, and what trouble they may give us yet." 

" Rigiit, Green, there's nothing like being on tlie sure side, and so, my lads 
look to the pouches. Weston, there's a candle in that stone bottle on the 
shelf — light it, and i>ut it on the table as soon as you have got that on its 
legs again." 

The examination was soon made. Each small cartouche box, expressly 
made for light excursions, contained, with tlie exception of the single cart- 
ridge which Collins had fired, tlio usual allowance of fifteen roniuls. Two 
of these however — those of Green and Pliilips — had been so saturated by 
long immersion in the water, that they were wholly unserviceable. They 
■were therefore emptied and dried, and the deficiency supplied from the 



42 HARDSCRABBI.E ; OR, 

pouches of theii- comrades, tluis leaving about a dozen charges to each 
man. 

" A small stock of ammunition, this, I guess, to stand a lung s-iegc (m an 
empty belly," drawled forth Cass. 

"Just like you — always croakin'," sneered Green, "and always tliinkin' 
of your belly. Why man, you've more ammunition there, I take it, tljan 
ever you'll fire away in your life." 

" And if we haven't enough," said the corporal, going to, and taking down 
and shaking a powder horn, which hung suspended from the wall, that had 
evidently been overlooked by the Indians, " here are a dozen more c.liarges 
at least, and the balls of the cartridges liave not, I take it, lost their power 
to drill a hole into a fellow because they've been considerably well ducked. 
But hark I what noise is that — listen !" 

A low, grating sound, as of some heavy body rubbing against tlio ground, 
was now audible at short intervals, and seemed to proceed from the southern 
gable — but not a voice was heard. From the moment when they had uttered 
their cry of disappointment, on finding the back entrance secured, tlie Indians 
bad preserved the utmost silence. 

Suddenly a yell, pealed from the direction of the river, caused tliem for 
the first time to revert to the exposed position of the unfortunate Collins. 

" Poor fellow," said Green, dashing away a tear. " I wish he was with 
ns. Somehow or other, I feel as if we should all have a better chance in a 
fight, were that lad in the middle of it." 

" We shall never see him more!" gravely observed the Virginian ; " that 
shot fired just after he- warned us, did his business, depend upon ir, and if 
that one didn't, it is not likely the blood-hounds would let him oif, after 
robbing them of their prey : no, no, poor Collins has lost his life in saving us." 

Again the yell was repeated, and from the same quarter. The cor[joral 
sprang to the ladder which communicated with the loft, and having placed 
it under the window on the front, hastily ascended and looked out, for no 
one had hitherto thought of closing an opening, from which no danger was, 
seemingly, to be apprehended. 

The darkness which had been so excessive at the moment of their entrance, 
had greatly diminished — so much so, that he could trace tlie forms of two or 
three of the warriors who were stooping low, apparently engaged with some 
object lying on the very bank of the river. 

" Scalping and mutilating the poor fellow, no doubt," he muttered fiercely 
to himself, " but here goes to revenge him !" 

Forgetting his usual prudence, he, in the strong excitement of the moment, 
drew up the butt of his musket to his shoulder, and as well as his cramped 
position would permit, covered one of the savages, but while in the very 
act of pulling the trigger, they all fell prostrate, and tlie buliet whizzed 
harnjlessly over them. In the next instant a ball, aimed at himself, and fired 
from another quarter, passed through the window, grazing the slioulder 
slightly bitten by Loup Garou, and lodged in the opposite logs of tlie room. 
A third loud yell followed as the corporal drew in his head and disappe.nred 
from the window. The Indians evidently thought he had been hit, and tliua 
gave utterance to their triumph. 



THK FALL OF CHICAGO. ^ 

'• There's that LTtiting sound again," remarked Weston. 

All now listened, and licard much more distinctly than before the peculiar 
sound. Then followed a scratching and bumping of something heavy against 
the end of the house. 

" I have it," said the Virginian. "They've dragged the ladder from the 
barn, and are trying to fix it under the bed-room window. Cass, do you 
and Philips go in and see wliat they're doing. But close tlie door after yon 
that they may not pick you off by the light." 

The door was cautiously opened and again shut as soon as the men had 
entered. They looked up at the window, which, in the darkness that pre- 
vailed around, was distinctly euough visible, but although open, nothing met 
their glance of a nature to startle them, nor could any movement be hoard 
without. 

" Hold my firelock," whispered Cass to his companion, " while I try and 
get a look out. I know poor Le Noir's bed is directly under the window, 
and I don't think that is too higli, if I stand on the pillow." 

He now cautiously groped his way to the bed, on ascending which, being 
a tall man, he found the top of his head to be on a level with the sill of the 
window. This was not sufficient for his purpose, and he sought to elevate 
liimself still more. In attempting, with this view, to place himself on the 
head- board, he missed his footing, and fell with some force between the liead 
of the bed, and the rude log wall. To his dismay, he found that his feet had 
rested not upon the hard floor of the apartment, but upon something soft 
and yielding, which his imagination, strongly excited by the events of tho 
day, led him unhesitatingly to conclude, was the flesh of a human body. 

" A light, corporal — a light!" he shouted, regardless of every thing, but 
bis desire to release himself from his present situation. " Bring a light. 
Here's a fellow who has got hold of me by the legl" 

" Take your musket then and bayonet him," said Philips, coolly, as he 
pushed towards the struggling man the butt end of his firelock, wliich at 
length reached his hands. At the same time. Corporal Nixon, rendered 
equally imprudent by tho suddenness of the demand for his presence, entered, 
followed by Weston, bearing the candle. 



CHAPTER Vr. 

Nothino can, we conceive, be in worse taste in a fictitious narrative, than 
the wanton introduction of the ludicrous U|)on tho solemn, but when in an 
historical tale these extremes do occur, fidelity forbids the suppression of the 
one, lest it .'ihould mar tho etTect of the other. Such is tho necessity under 
whicli we find ourselves. 

The first act of the corporal, on seeing how matters stood, was to pull 
back tho bedstead behind which Cass was imprisoned, so as whollv to uncover 
liim and his assailant, but the surprise of all m.iy be imagined, when, instead 
of an Indian, with whom they believed him to be struggling, they behold an 
'immense turkey-cock, well known to them all, which was partly under the 



44 HABDSCRABBLK ; OR, 

foot of the soldier — partly in a boarded drain or reservoirij ■which passed from 
the apartment into a large hog trough, tliat lay along the wall and daily 
received the refuse of the various meals. The bird, furious with pain, was 
burying its beak into the leg of the soldier, while he, with the butt end of 
his musket aloft, and the bayonet depressed, offered the most burlesque 
representation of St. George preparing to give his mortal thrust to the 
dragon. 

In spite of the danger by which they were beset, it was impossible for the 
men to restrain the indulgence of their humor at this singular sight, nor 
was the disposition at all checked, when they saw the bayonet descend and 
actually transfix the intruder to the floor — causing him to droop his head, 
and thus free Oass from his furious attacks. 

" If that's the way you kill your enemies. Nutcrackers, we promise to e.it 
them up for yon — as many a.s you like," and as he spoke. Green advanced 
and seized the dying bird by the throat ; but as he pulled it suddenly away, 
a dark human hand was observed to relinquish its Iwld of the feet, and 
rapidly disappear. 

The mirth of the men was now succeeded by a seriousness befitting the 
occasion, for it was clear to all that this occurrence, absurd as it was, had 
been the means of betraying a new plan of the enemy to get into the house. 
If the drain was large enough to admit of the passage of the bird — always 
remarkable for its size — it was highly possible that some of the more slightly 
formed Indians, might force their way through it also. They had evidently 
tried to see if it could be done — the turkey-cock having been put forward as 
a " feeler," and the necessity of either closing the avenue, or weakening their 
strength by keeping a man constantly on the watch, was now obvious. 

"Find something to stop up that hole with Cass," ordered the corporal. 

" I can see nothing," replied the other, after a few moments search, 
" unless we stop it with tlie bedding." 

" A wise plan that. The Injins would soon set fire to it, and if they didn't 
burn us out, they would soon smoke us out. Either would suit their pur- 
pose." 

" Let him stuff it with his head, corporal," interposed Green, "I'm snre 
that's thick enough for a plug." 

" Perhaps there's a head in it already," suggested Philips, " there was a 
hand just now — the other may have followed." 

" By jingo I'll try," returned Green, " I'd give a week's grog to be able to 
prick a feller with this pl.nythin'." 

So saying, he knelt upon the floor, and holding his musket in a horizontal 
position, a few inches above it, he gave a furious thrust into the aparture. 
To his astonishment, for notwithstanding his half bravado, he had not seriously 
anticipated such a result, he found the advance of his weapon slightly 
arrested by a yielding body, and even liad not a sharp cry of pain from the 
other extremity of tlie trough, satisfied liira of the fact, the peculiar sensation 
he experienced as tlie steel overcame the resistance was suflicient to convince 
Green, little accustomed even as he bad been to bayonet men, that the bay- 
onet had entered into some soft part of the human body. 

To the cry of the wounded man, succeeded a savage and threatening yell 



THE FALL O? CHICAGO. 45 

from the nniteil band, and now re-eommenced the grating Mnnd which had 
two or three times before excited the cnnjc-ctnres of the besie;;ed. 

" Ah ! yell away yon devils ; that's all the good you'll get," exclaimed 
Green, exulting nt his success; " but don't take so tig!it a cri[i of my bay- 
onet. I say. Philips, lend us a li.ind, if I slian't.lose iiiy musket with that 
fellow 8triigg!in' like a speared Ma-ciling.i." 

Both now |)ulled at the firelock, with all their strength. Suddenly the 
resistance cea-ed, and they fell sideways on the floor, bringing the mn^ket 
with them, but without tlie bayonet. At the same moment a shot was fired 
into the aperture, and the ball whiziiing by the ear of Pliilip?, and passing 
througli Green's right leg. lodged in the p.irtition beyond. 

" St.mrl aside, men," shouted the corfioral, " stand from before that hole, 
or we shall be marks in this liglit for the skulking villains." 

Jackson, who h.id been dispatched for one of the small round hickory logs 
that lay piled up in a curner near the chimney, now approached wiih one 
that was just large enough to fit tightly in the apertiire. All seized it, and 
taking the precaution to keep their legs out of danger, j.ammed one end into 
the mouth of the drain, adding afterwards a few heavy blows from the axes 
of I^ Noir and Ephraim Giles, which had been found in a corner of the 
room. 

"Now then," said the Virginian, after having examined the small window 
of the bed-room, and securely fastened tlie shutter — " we've not mnch more 
to fear. TiieyVe two to one its true, but I defy them to do ns much harm 
before daylight, when, I take it they'll be off, if not sooner." 

" Well, then, corporal," suggested Green, •' I vote that as we're pretty safe, 
and have yet that piece of plunder, we set to woi-k and cook it, for I'm dev- 
ilish hungery, and so I think we must all be, seeing as how we hain't had a 
regular me;d the wlmle day, besides if we rummage the place, we may chance 
to light upon somethin' else. I see the varmint have carried off the nice 
row of venison hams that used to hang up round the chimney, but there may 
be somethin' in the loft." 

"No bad thought that of yours. Green," answered the corporal, " Oass, 
yon killed the bird, you must pluck it and grill it." 

" That's what I call taking it sensibly," said the latter, leaning his musket 
against the wall, and dragging the heavy turkey to thckiiclion-corner, where 
seated on the very chair ou which poor Mr. Heywond had smoked his last 
pipe, he commenced pinching out the feathers by hnndfuls. "Let fasting 
without, and fe.isting within be the word ; hut its mortal dry eating that great 
he turkey, without something to wash it down. I say. Philips, yon are a 
good hand at foraging — don't you think you could find out a little of the 
'Wabash there," and he pointed to the loft. 

Philips approached the ladder with the intention of making a search, but 
the Virginian checked him. 

"Stop a moment," he said, "until I have had another look out in front." 
Thns saying he cauiiously ascended to his firmer position, the view from 
which was much less indistinct than before. The obscurity had, in a great 
degree, passed away, so much so, that all objects within the area f 'rined by 
the enclosures of the garden and the orchard were thrown into percejili'jlo 



46 HARDSCRABBLB ; OR, 

relief. His first tlionglit was to cast his glance npon the water, lie ping, ho 
scarcely knew why, lliat something might be seen of the sliiff w.'iidi Imd 
contained the unfortunate Collins. Disiippninted in tli.-it quarter, liii evo 
nest turned upon the walunt tree, t!ic white blossoms of which li:ul dropped 
around and upon the spot, where lay the body of tljo ill-faled I,e Noir, at 
whose head was s'ill squatted, as when he liad loft him, his faithlul dog. 
There was much in this trait of devotion on the part of tlic animal which 
could not fail to awaken sympathy even in the roughest heart, and although 
the corporal was not particularly sentimental, he could nut but be deeply 
touched by the contrast forced upon him, between the moaning animal and 
the wild lust fur blood which reigned in the liearts of tlieir unprovoked 
assailants. His first impulse was to call approvingly to the dog, but the 
next moment's reflection on the folly of sucli a proceeding stifled the impulse. 
Then his attention was called not only to the perfect immunity from further 
outrage of the victim and his follower, but to tlie profound silence, and 
absence of danger which seemed to exist, in that quarter. That the Indians 
had not departed, although they had not been heard since the yell tliat fol- 
lowed the cry produced by the tlirust from Green's bayonet, he felt confident, 
and it now seemed to him tliat tliey must be directing their efforts against 
some other part of the building. 

No sooner had he admitted this last belief, than lie .again descended, and 
raising the ladder himself, bore it noiselessly to tlie spot wlienco it had been 
removed, then ordering the candle to be extinguished, and tlio embers to be 
drawn together, so as to deaden tlie liglit of the fire, lie with Green and 
Weston crept up the ladder, Cass being left to comoletc tlio preparation of 
the turkey the best way he could, while Pliilips and Jackson, posted at the 
back and front doors, listened attentively for the slightest sound of danger, 
which being heard, they were at once to warn the party above. 

When the corporal had gained the top of the ladder. Green, who w.is the 
last, having his foot on the first step, tlie former was evidently start'ied by 
some new danger. But just as he w.ta in tlie act of springing to the upper 
floor, the ladder, too fr.ail to sustain their united weight, snapped suddenly 
asunder in the middle, and fell with some noise, thus separating him from 
his companions. 

Regardless of this, and having secured his own footing, he now moved 
cautiously towards the opjiosite end of the loft, where a small opening, about 
two feet in length, and one in heiglit, seemingly intended .is a veniilator, 
appeared nearly vertical to the window of the bed-room below. Casting 
iis glance downwards through tlie opening, he beheld five or six savages 
standing grouped together, leaning on their guns, and apparently watching 
some object above them. This, naturally, drew the corporid's aitcniiou to 
the same quarter, when to his dismjiy he found that tl:c long 1-adder usually, 
kept at the barn was now resting against tlio gable of the house, not tlireo 
feet from the right corner of the aperture, through which he gazed. In an 
instant it occurred to him that this li.ad been the work of the Indians, and at 
ouce accounted for the grating sounds that had so often met liis ears that 
night. Tliero could bo no doubt that the f:Ian of the enemy now was 
to enter the roof, which could bo done by removing part of the raw buffalo 



rns PMLL OF CFIICAGO. 



4'J 



hides of wliicli it was coniposeii. Indeed it was a slight noise made in tlie 
direction of tliat very angle of the roof where the luddtr now stood, that 
liad caught his attention on first putting bis head through the aperture 
while preceeding Ida men. Tins had suddenly ceased at the moment when 
tlie ladder broke and fell, nor bad there been a repetition of the sound. 
Still, satished that some discovery of the true designs of the Indians would 
result from his remaiiiiiig a little longer, he continued at the opening, which 
was too small to betray bis presence if using precaution, while it enabled 
him to observe the movements of the enemy. Soon afterwards he heard 
them speaking in earnest but low tones, as if addressing somebody above 
them, and tlien a proloEiged yell, which was answered by others from the 
front of tlie house, echoed tlirough tlio surrounding forests. Even amid the 
horrid discord, the quick ear of the Virginian, now painfully on the stretch, 
cauglil the ."^ame sound that bad first attracted bis attention. It was exactly 
at the angle of tiie I'oof, and only a pace or two from him. The peculiai- 
noise was not to be mistaken even by an unpr.actised ear. It was, evidently, 
that of a knife, not very sharp, cautiously cutting through a tough and resist- 
ing leather. 

The corporal became now more anxious than ever, but this feeling did not 
in the slightest degree, disturb his self-possession, or cause him to waver ia 
the resolution he htid from the first adopted. He waited patiently, until, as 
lie expected, he heard a corner of one of the buflfalo hides turned up, and 
beheld reflected, against the back-ground of light thus suddenly introduced, 
the upper part of a hunjan being, who^e shorn head, covered on the crown 
wiib straight and slightly streaming feathers, too plainly indicated his purpose. 
What a target for the bullet — what an object for the bayonet of the soldier, 
who, bad not prudence atid coolness interposed, had certainly used one or the 
other. But the Virginian had hit upon another, and as he conceived, a better 
plan to get rid of his enemy, and in bis fate, of further probable annoyance 
from his ferocious companions. It was not bis object that the Indians should 
even suspect that they had been detected in this new device, for he was well 
aware that if he fired, or used his bayonet against the man, those below 
would rush up the ladder to succeed him, and by their weight prevent the 
accomplishment of what he had in view; therefore, cut off, as he in a 
mcasuio was, frotn his party, it was incumbent on him to adopt the only 
sure means of relief from danger, and that without a moment of delay. 

While the Indian, who finding, evidently, that the orifice he had made in 
the roof was not yet large enough for bis purpose, had dropped the incised 
portion of tlie hide, and was .ngain using his knife; tlie Virginian, stooping 
sliglitly at the off-side of the window, ascertained that the feet of the former 
were resting on one of the upper steps of the ladder. This was what he% 
desired, and all he now wanted was a hard, flat substance to fasten on the 
point of his b.iyonet. After reflecting vainly for a few moments how this 
was to be attained, he suddenly bethought him of his tliiok-soled amniuni- 
ti. Ill-boots. Removing one of these without noise, he pierced tlie inner 
Icatlicr, by pressing it (irmly against the point of the bayonet, so .is to secure 
without allowing it to pass through. Then, cautiously protruding his musket 
from the opening, he slowly advanced it, until the sole of the boot touched 



48 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

tlie frame of tlie ladder, not two feet under tlie rounJ on which the Indian 
stood. Here for a moment he allowed the barrel, concealed by the low 
depending eaves, to rest against the jamb of the aperture. His anxiety was 
now worked up to the highest possible pitch, for he feared, notwithstanding 
his success so far, that something might yet occur to defeat his purpose, and 
ihns peril not only his own life, but the lives of the whole of the party 
below. Three minutes he remained in this trying position of uncertainty, 
which seemed to liim as so many hours. Presently, however, the Indian on 
the roof, having evidently accomplished his task, and believing from the 
silence that had for some time pervaded around, that no one was near him, 
spoke in a low tone to his companions, who now cautiously crept towards 
the ladder. 

This was the moment for action. Tlie Virginian, who, although expecting 
this, had watched their movements with aching interest, now summoned 
his whole strength, and while the first savage below was upon the ladder, 
pushed his musket with such violence against the sole, that it carried it 
rapidly over the corner of the house, before the Indian could find presence 
of mind to throw himself upon the roof — a sudden backward jerk of 
the weapon liberated the bayonet, the extreme ]ioint of which only had 
entered the wood, and as the Virginian withdrew this, he could distinctly 
see the unfortunate savages fall headlong from the top of the ladder, 
uttering, as both descended, a fearful cry of dismay, which was responded 
to by fierce yelln from the lips of their companions, who hastened to their 
succor. 

" Well done, that!" said the corporal, exultingly, and half-aloud to himself, 
as he slapped his thigh, in a manner to denote his own self-approval. "That's 
what I call doing the business as it should be done. The attempt," and ho 
smiled at the conceit, " was not a bootless one to us all, though it has been 
a loot less one to me." 

To understand this facetiousness of the Virginian, it must be understood 
that on withdrawing his bayonet, the boot which it had only slightly pierced, 
had slipped from the weapon and fallen to the ground simultaneously with 
the other heavier bodies, whose more marked sound had absorbed its own. 
It therefore escaped the notice of the Indians. 

"Hilloa there I" he continued in a louder key ; "there's no more danger 
in this quarter, my lads. Show ns a light, and if Cass has that turkey ready, 
we'll have some supper. For ray part, I'm devilisli sharp set. Here, Green, 
take my musket, and give me the candle." 

Surprised at the corporal's unwonted humor, for they had been led to 
apprehend, from the noise made by the falling ladder, and the excitement 
•evidently prevailing among the Indians, that some new act of treacliery was 
about to be tried by them, the men gathered underneath the opening. 
Green taking Ids musket from the hands of the Virginian, while in return, 
lie mounted on one of the low chairs, and extending his arm far above. 
Landed him the light. 

After a few minutes search, the corporal appeared again at the mouth of 
the loft, not only with a demijohn half-filled with whisky, but with a large 
loaf of brown bread, and part of a shoulder of dried venison, from which 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 49 

nearly one-Lalf Ijad been chipped away in slices. This, indeed, was a prize, 
and the men looked at the articles of necessary supply, as they were succes- 
sively handed down, with an earnestness which denoted, that whatever 
might be their apprehensions of danger from without, they by no means 
coveted fighting on an empty stomach. After having lowered the treasures 
ho had been so fortunate as to secure, the Virginian swung himself down by 
his hands, without difficulty, upon the lower floor. 

The fire had been again revived, and having ordered Jaclison up into the 
lolt, to keep watch at the small window, and apprise him if any attempt 
should be made to replace the ladder, the corporal for the Erst time lighting 
his pipe, sat down to ruminate on his position, and consider tha means by 
which tlie party were to be taken back to the fort. Further serious appre- 
hensions in regard to their safety he did not now entertain, for baulked, as 
the Indians had been, in all their attempts to get into tlie house, lie felt 
persuaded that it was more with a view to annoy and alarm, than with any 
hope of eventual success, that they still lingered in the neighborhood. Had 
they been in a situation to continue the siege longer than the morning, the 
case miglit have been different. But it was ol)vious that in order to secure 
their own safety, alarmed as they must know the governor would be at tho 
absence of the party under his command, they would not remain longer 
than daylight exposed to the chances of being themselves closely assailed 
from without. 

Such wivs the reasoning of tlie Virginian, whose greatest source of dis- 
comfort now was the apprehension of serious reprimand, if not something 
worse, from the austere Captain Ileadley, whose disi)leasure, he was certain, 
would he so much the greater on account of the loss of the unfortunate Col- 
lins, lie looked at his watch, but to his great annoyance, found that it had 
stoj)ped, the hour-hand pointing to one o'clock. IIow long it had been run 
down, he could not tell, but from the time which had elapsed since their 
abandonment of the boat, and arrival in the house, he did not think it could 
be less than fcmr in the morning. 

Desirous to satisfy himself by the ap|iearance of the heavens, he arose, 
and rtith the aid of Green, placed the table under the window commanding 
a view of the river. This being too low, a chair was placed upon it, thus 
affording the corporal the advantage of greater elevation than he had derived 
from the use of tlie ladder itself 

Everything was again quiet. Not a sound broke the stillness, save tho 
howling of a few wolves, which, probably, attracted by the scent of the 
human blood that had been spilt that day, and by the exposed C(u-pse that 
was now strewed with white blossoms from the tree beneath whioli it lay, 
were, by the increasing light, indistinctly seen on tlio opposite slmre. Hut 
cot their savage cry of hunger alone was heard. Ever and anon, in replv to 
their fierce howling was heard the snappisli hark of Loup G.irou, as, leaping 
on the body of his imconscions master, he la.slied his tail, and seemed to bid 
defiance to those whose errand he seemed so perfectly to divine. 

"Poor dog! you shall never want a master while I can keep you," half 
murmured tho ccu'poral, as he now turned his gaze upon the water, anxious 
to see if any trace could bo found there of the skiff and its missing occup.'jut. 



50 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

Notliing, however, came witliin his view, but just as lio was preparing to 
descend from tlie window, the outline of tlie boat, for from its peculiar 
shape he easily identififd it as their own, riveted his attention as it jia^^sed 
quickly ni) the river, tilled with seven or eiglU savages in their war-dress, 
and having at the bow wliat had the appearance of a pole, from the top of 
wliicli dangled a liuman scalp. 

"Gone at last," he exclaimed, after a moment's pause, "but with jioor 
Collins' scalp along willi them. Cass," he added, as he sprang to the floor, 
" if that turkey is fit to eat let's h.ave it directly, and yon, Weston, look about 
and see if there is any more water to be liad. Make haste, now, for we shall 
have to tramp it to the fort as soon as it's daylight. The devils are gone 
and carried off the boat." 

Not less anxious than himself to be once more on their way to the fort, 
which some of them, on entering the house that night, had scarcely hoped 
to reacli alive, the men, leaning their muskets against the side of the room, 
assisted in preparing the rude, but grateful meal, of which they stood so 
much in need, and whicli was to sustain them during the short-approaching 
march. The table having been placed in the centre of the room, and on it 
the demijohn, and bread and venison. Green and Weston, the latter of 
■whom had been unsuccessful in his search for water, seized each a leg and a 
wing of the ample turkey, which now denuded and disembowelled, Cass had 
scientifically carved in its raw state, and held them in the blaze of the fire, 
waiting patiently until the blackness of the outside should give promise of 
corresponding warmth within. Its slayer held the body of the bird over 
the fire in a similar manner, the poker having been thrust into the abdomen. 
They all sat, or rather stood in a squatting position with their faces to the 
fire. 

"Well, now, I reckon wo shall make six considerable shares of this," 
drawled Cass, looking fondly at the carcass, which was slowly but tempt- 
ingly spluttering before him at the fire. " Are you any wa^'s particular, 
Green ? — what part suits your taste best, Weston — a leg or a wing ? For my 
part I always stick to the carcass." 

" Faith, and I like both, and a slice of tlie brenst to boot. I'm just the 
fellow, now the vermints are gone, that could eat all of them." 

"Yes, but you know," returned the temporary chef de cuisine, " it must be 
share and share alike — there's two legs — two wings and the breast, and the 
back -slit in two — tliat just makes six portions, and we're six men in all." 

"Cast lots fiddlestick," said Green, "what portion do you expect. Nut- 
crackers? unless it's the neck, and the scaly part of the leg, the Injin liad hold 
of when you so bravely sent your bayonet through her feathers." 

"Well, only think how cunning of the fellows," remarked Weston, 
"who'd ever have thought they would try that fashion to get in, cramming 
an old turkey before them to clear the way, and get in his craw the first bul- 
let tliat might be sent." 

" Yes, and the tight grip the fellow had of him by the leg. Just look, 
Green, the mark of the devil's hand may be upon him yet. It was the right 
leg, and that's it you have." 

" Bosh I what do you expect me to find there but the marks of yo'ir dirty 



THK FALL, OK CHICAI^O. 51 

pa'vj wliilo plucking him, I'm too i!evili>li Iiiingi-)- fur such nonsense, Nut- 
crackers; but show nie tlio liijiii lliat wonhi veniure to touch his legs now. 
]f I wouldn't ni.'uk iiini, then my name's not Setli Green." 

Scarcely liail lio finislied speaking, when a dark naked humau hand was 
slowly protruded over his shonhler, and seized not tlie leg of the turkey, which 
Green now grasped with unconscious and convuUive energy, but a brand 
from the lire. 

In his terror at that strange and unexpected appearance, ho dropped the 
body of the bird in the glowing embers, and uttering a hiint cry, turned half 
round and helicld what lilled him with the deepest dismay: Ids companions, 
scarcely less terrified than liinT-elf, sprang together to their feet, with the 
intention of rushing to their muskets, but all hope of recovering them was 
gone. The savage who had snatched the fire was no longer there then, but 
lialf a dozen others in their war-paint stood between them and their firelocks. 
It seemed as if they were sensible that their very silence insiiired more awe 
and apprehension iii the bosoms of their defencless enemies tlian cojdJ have 
done the most turbulent exjjression of their triumph. Tliey liad evidently 
entered by the back door, which was now quite open, and grouped around 
the body of Mr. Heywood, were apparently ninre interested in the dead than 
in the living. Not a sign was there of the corporal, and Philips stood as if 
paralyzed, leaning, musket in hand, against the opposite entrance. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Leaving the little party in the dismay occasioned by their new pusition, 
fttid that at a moment wlien they believed themselves secured fnmi further 
interruption or danger, we must now return to the Fort, where their long- 
continued absence, coupled with the startling tidings conveyed by Ephraim 
Giles, had created equal anxiety and apprehension. 

It will be recollected that during the examination of the latter. Ensign 
Ronayne had, alter coinmuidcating with the commanding officer, suddenly 
departed across the river, taking with him a few .armed men. The destina- 
tion of this little party was the cott.ige occupied by Mrs. Ileywood and her 
daughter, who, with a woman servant, were the sole occupants of a dwelling, 
simple in construction, but decorated both within and withcnit, by the hand 
of good taste. It was a low, one-storied building, painted white, with greea 
window-blinds and shutters, and a verandah of trellis. work of the same 
color, that extended a few feet square round the principal entrance. On 
either side, rose to tlie roof, on parallel lines, and at equal distances, cords of 
etrong twine, on which already had begun to interlace themselves, the various 
parasites indigenous to the soil, which winter had robbed of their freshness^ 
tut which a southern sun was now evidently vivifying atid re-invigorating. 
A small garden of about half-an-acre, surrounded by a similar trellis-work^ 
extended equally in front, and on the sides of the house — while the graceful 
form given to tbo various beds, and the selection of the plants and flowers, 
which, although still in their dormant state, were yet recognizable— testified 



62 HAKDSCRABBLK ; OK, 

tlie refined tasto of those who had assisted at theii- cultnrc. The patliway, 
which was leceiuly gravelled Ironi the adjacent sand-hills, ran in a straight 
line from tlio verandali, toward the little green gate, opening on the front 
of tlie garden, took a semicircular sweep on eiiher side, at about one-tliird 
of llie distance from tlje gate. This form had been given to it for tlie 
pnrpose of aifording room for the creatiiai of a mound, on the summit of 
which had been placed a small i-ummer-house, octagon in shape, and con- 
structed of tlie fame description of trellis-work. The sloping sides of the 
mound itself, were profusely covered withdalilias, rhododendmus, geraniums, 
and other plants of the most select kind — the whole forming, when in bloom, 
a circle of floral magnificence. A short and narrow [latli, just large enough 
to admit of the pas.-age of one person at a time, led to the entrance of the 
summer-houfe, which, facing the gate, was also shaded from the light and 
heat of the sun's rays, by closely interlacing vines. 

At the bottom of this artificial mound, and near the patliway, a small 
spud, such as is used for pruning, was stuck into some earth, newly drawn 
round a splendid tiger lily, and on the handle of the siiud, Were loosely 
throv.-n a white silk jacket, a blue velvet cap, and a light pink scarf — 
evidencing that no ordin.-iry gardener had been tliat day emjiloyed in bringing 
into new lil'e the gorgeous beauties of the variegated parterre. 

" Little did I think," mused the young officer, as, leaving his party at the 
gate, and hastening towards the cottage, his eye fell upon those articles of 
dress — •' little did I imagine when I threw off these things a few hours since, 
to obey a summnns to the Fort, that on my return to ihem, it would be with 
this heavy lieart, and as tlie liearer of these tidings — but I must be cautious 
in my di.-.elosure. Dear girl, here she is !" 

" Why, Kon.'iyne, what in the name of Heaven is the meaning of all this? 
Are you here to take the castle by storm, with all these armed warriore? 
A few hours since you were a man of peace, and now I behold in you a 
most approved and valiant knight of the true American school. Sword, 
caj), feather, epaulet, bine bio:id-eloih, and silver. Well it must be confessed 
tliat you are not a bad imit.ation of a soldier, in that g.'irb, and it is in jiity 
to me, I suppose, tlijit you do not wear it oftener. But seriously, Harry, do 
satisfy my curiosity, and tell me the reason of this unusual manner of visit?" 

The question was asked iilayfully, but in tones replete with sweetness, by 
a t.ill and elegantly-formed girl, who on turning the further circle of the 
walk, in her approach to her favorite flower-bed, had for the first time, 
beheld llie young officer, and the party stationed at the gate. 

" Nay, dear Maria," returned the youth, deeply grieved at the thought of 
casting a gloom over the spirits of her who thus ndlied him. " I am sorry 
to say my errand is not one of mere parade — I have come to announce that 
which will give you pain ; and but that I am charged with the agreeable 
dutj' of making you a prisoner, 1 never should ha^'e had the courage to be 
the bearer of the intelligence." 

Miss Ileywood turned very (lale, less at the words even tlian at the man- 
ner of the young otlicer, who it was evident, felt all the weight of the task 
ho had undertaken. 

"Ronayne," she said, her voice suddenly assuming a rich melancholy of 



THE FALL OF CIIICAOO. 53 

jiitonatiiin, in str.iiijjc oontr:ist witli liei' first address, "there H more in this 
tlian yoii woidd acnuaint ine wiih. But tell mio," and t-lic fixed lier largo 
<lii:'k tyos mi liii; — '" lell me all. What i>Min is it \oii fear to oooat^ion me, and 
liow i.- it ciiiuiected with m\- heing a prisoner ? IJa!" and she gr.isped his 
anil, and l)e;r;iyed dee|> agitation — ''purely nothing in my father's coa- 

"No, no. M.ala," retnrtieil the youth, quickly, "far from anything of the 
Uiiid, and \eL it is of your fatiier I would speak. But have you heard 
liotliing >uice 1 left you. Have you seen no one ?'' 

" I have heard nothing — >een not a sonl from without," she answered, as 
Iie.ttnderly pressed tiie hand he liad taken — " Huf, Ronayne," she pursued, 
Milh melancholy i;ravity — "a sudden light dawns upon me — my heart tells 
me that some mi-fortnne or otiier has liappened, or is about to happen — you 
say yuu would speak MUnut my lather. You are the bearer of ill-news ia 
regard lo him. Yes, I know it, is so; tell me, Harry," and she looked im[)lor- 
ingly up to liim, "am 1 not rijrlit? — my failier has been attacked by Indians, 
aa<l lie has fallen. Oli! you do imt deny it!" 

" Nay, ilearesl Maria, 1 know nothing of tlie kind, although I will not con- 
eejil from yon thai there is dan^'er — yon have gnes.sed correctly as to the 
Iu<li.uis leaving been at the farm, but litile eortaiu is known as to the result 
of their visit. That half iiliot Ephraim Gilts, has come in with some wild 
>tor\, but 1 dares.iy he e.N'.iggeraies." 

Miss lle> wiiod shook lier lasid donbtingly. "You deceive me, Ronayne 
— with the best intention, but still you deceive me. If yon really think iha 
rduior be e.\ag,ger.ited, u liy yoiu'own restle-sness and seriousne-s of manner ? 
Ilariy, this is no time for concealment, for I feel that I can better bear the 
Irnlli twio than l<iUr. Do not hesitate then to lell me all you know." 

"True, my love, tiiis is no linie for concealment since such be the state of 
vour feelin.gs. I wius unwilling to admit my own apprehension iii\ the sub- 
ject, fciiriii;; that you might be ill-prepared lor the di.sclosnre; bntafierwhat 
yon iirtve ju-t urged, the blow can never fall less heavily than now. You 
musi, know, then, that a party of hostile Indians have, there is too much 
reusoii to fear, u-ed violence ti'w.-irds the inmates of the larin-liotise, but to 
what extent we have no means of knowing ; though such is the .alarm 
created by tliinv presence that Ileadley, v;lio you know is the \cry sonl of 
caution, has ordered every \Yhite in the ncigliborhood of the Fort, to be 
removed for s.afeiy within its walls." 

" Would that iu-tead ('{that" remarked Mi-s Iley wood, with solemnity, 
"beii.-id despatched those soldiers, whom I see there fully armed, to the 
rescue of my |ioor lather. Perhaps he might be s.ived yet — the house is 
strong, and mighi be d. fended for ^ome lime, even by a couple of men." 

" ,\ud uie at their head. Is it not so, Maria?" inquired the youth. 

" Yi^s^ ;ind you at their head, dear IJonayue," repeated Mi.ss Hey wood ; "to 
no one sooner wmild 1 be indebted for my f.ilhei's safety, as no one would. I 
.1111 sure, more cheerfully aitiinpt. his deliver.icce." 

The young .\meric:iii miiscd a momcni, and then rejoined, despomlingly ; 
" Were these men at my di-po.sal, M.ui.i, how gladly would I h.isten to 
cTieonnter every diliienlty, the removal of wliioli would spare your gentle 

4 



64 HABDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

Bosom those pangs; but yon know Headley would never permit it. Ilisi 
prudence is a mania, and even were lie to yield Ids consent — let me not sus- 
tain you with delusive hopes — I fear it would be too late." 

" God's will be done," she ejaculated, as tlie large tears fell trickling 
down her pallid cheeks, " but what will become of my poor, and now 
nearly dcatli-.^tricken-motlier, when she hears of tliis?" 

"The blow is indeed a fearful one, but act, I pray you, with courage. 
Consider, too, your own safety. No one knows the force of tlie Indians, or 
how soon they may be here. Go in, dearest, prepare wliat you may 
more immediately require for a few days, and my men will carry your 
trunks down to the scow which is waiting to receive you." 

'' And if I should consent to go, Ronayne, you know my poor mother can- 
not rise from her bed. What do you propose to do with her? To remove 
her, and let her know why she is removed, would soon finish the work her 
debilitating disease has begun." 

» " I have made every necessary provision," answered the young officer, 
glad to find that her thoughts could be diverted from the immediate source 
of her sorrow. "Elmsley's wife, to whom I spoke a few hurried words on 
leaving, is even now preparing for your temporary reception, and I have 
thought of an excuse to be given to your mother. You must for once in 
your life use deceit, and say that Van Votteuberg desires her presence in the 
fort, because his duties have become so .severe that he can no longer absent 
himself to bestow upon her tliat professional care she so much requires). 
Nay, look not so incredulous. I am aware that the pretext is a meagre one, 
but I cannot at present think of a better; and in her enfeebled state .she will 
not dwell upon tlie strangeness of the plea. Go on then, I entreat you, and 
desire Catherine to collect what you will want, while my men carry to the 
scow such articles of furniture as will be most useful to you in your new 
quarters. Quick, dear Maria, I implore you, there has already been too 
much time lost, and I expect every moment an order from Headley to return 
immediately." 

Sensible of a pressing emergency. Miss Heywood, with a beating heart, 
regained the cottage, in whicli .so many hli<.'*ful hours had been passed 
within the last two years, undisturbed by a care for tlie future, while the 
young ofiicer joining his men, left one to take care of the arms of the 
party, and with the remainder hastened to the house making as little noise as 
possible, in order not to disturb the invalid. Having cho.sen such articles 
<if furniture as he knew Mrs. Elmsley was most deficient in, and among 
these a couch and a couple of easy-chairs (which latter indeed were the 
work of his own hands), they were conveyed to tlie scow in two trips, 
iind then followed three or four trunks into which had been thrown, without 
regard to order, such wearing apparel, and necess.aries of the toilet as the 
short period allowed for preparation had permitted the agitated girl to put 
together. The most delicate part of the burden, however, yet I'eniained to 
be removed, and that was the inv.alid herself. Desiring his men to remain 
witlmut, the youth, whose long and close iniimacy with the family rendered 
such a step by no means objeotionuble, entered the apartment of Mrs. Hey- 
wood, who had already been prepared by hor daughter for the removal, and 



THE FALL OK CHICAGO. 55 

■with t'le assisitance of Oaliierine raised tlie bcil on wliich slie lay, and trans- 
ferred il to a litter broutjlit for iho occasion. Tliis they carefully bore 
through tlie suite of small .'ind intervening rooms to the front, where two of 
the men relieved them, Catherine walking at the side, and unnecessarily 
enjoining caution at every stop. 

"This is, iudeed, an unexpected change, Rouayne," .said Miss Ileywood, 
sadly, "hut this morning, and I was so happy, and now! These poor flow- 
ers, too (for after having fastened the wiiulous and doors of the house, 
thev were now directing their cour.-e towards the mound), that parterre 
whicli cost us so much labor, yes, such sweet lahor, niust all be left to be 
destroyed by the hand of some ruthless savage. Yet, what do I say," she 
pur>ued, in a tone of deep sorrow, "I lament the tlowers; yes, Ronayne, 
because they have thriven under your care, and yet, I forget that my father 
perhaps no longer lives ; that my beloved mother's death may be the early 
consequence of this remi>val. Yet thiid< me not selflsli. Think me not 
nngrateful. Come what may. you will yet bo left to nie. No, Harry," and 
she looked up to him tearfully, " I shall never be utterly destitute, while yon 
remain." 

"Bless you, thrice blc.-s you for these sweet avowals of your confidence," 
exclaimed the youth, suddenly dropping her arm, and straining her passion- 
ately to his heart. " Yes, Maria, I shall yet remain to love, to cherish, to 
make you forget every other tie in that of husband — to blend every relation- 
ship in that of one." 

" Nay, Ronayne," she quickly retui-ned, while the color mounted vividly 
to her cheek, under the earnest ardor of his gaze, " I would not now nnsay 
what I have said, and yet I did not intend that my words should exactly bear 
that interpreta'jon^nor is this a moment " 

" But still you will be my wife — tell me, Maria?" and he looked implor- 
ingly into her own not averted eyes. " You will be the wife, as you have 
long been the friend and companion of your Ronayne — answer me. Will 
you not ?" 

Iler head sank upon his shoulder, and the heaving of her bosom, as she 
gently returneil his embrace, alone conveyed the assurance he desired. She 
was deeply affected. She knew the ardent, generous nature of her lover, 
and she felt that every word that had just fallen from liis lips, tended only 
to unravel the true emotions of his heart: but soothing as was his impas- 
sioned language, she deemed it almost criminal, at such a moment, to listen 
to it. 

•' Nay, dearest Harry," she said, gently disengaging luMvelf from his 
end)race, " we will be seen. They may Avonder at <nir delay, and send 
somebody back from the scow. Let us proceed." 

" You are right," replied the young officer, again passing her arm through 
his own, 'vliile they continued their route, " i-xce;-s of happiness mu^t not 
cause me to commit an imprudence so great, as that of suffering another to 
divine the extent. Yet one word more, dear Maria! and ah ! think how 
much depL-nds upon your answer. When shall I call yon mine ?" 

"Oh! speak not now of that, Ronayne — consider the position of my 
father — my mother's health." 

" It is for that very reaso_n that I do ask it," returned the youth. "Should 



56 HARD8CRABBLE ; OR, 

Heaven deprive you of the one, as it in some degree tlireatcng you witli (lie 
loss of tlio otlier, wliul sliull so well oorisulo you as tlie lcn<k-ini-.ss of him 
who is blessed with your love ?" 

" Husli, Hurry," and slie fondly pressed his arm — " they will hear you." 

They had now approached the scow, into whieli llie men, having previously 
deposited the furniture and trunks, wei'e preparing to embark ihe litter upun 
■which Mrs. Ileywood Liy extended, with an expression of resignation and 
repose upon her calm feaiures, that touched the hearts of even these rude 
men. Her daiighter, half-rein-o.iching her.-elf for not having personally 
attended to her transport, and only consoled by the recollection of tlie 
endearing expLination with her lover, wliicli had chanced to result from her 
absence, now tenderly inquired how ^lle had borne it, and was deeply- 
gratified to find that the change of air, and gentle exercise to which she had 
been subjected, had somewhat restored her. Heie was one source of care 
partly removed, and she fVlt, if jiossible, increased affection for the youth to 
whose considerate attention was owing this favoiable change in the condi- 
tion of a parent, whom she had ever fondly loved. 

It w^as nesr sunset when Ronayne, who, witli the robust Calherine, had 
carefully lifted the invalid into the centre of the scow, reached the landing- 
place below the Foi't. Here were collected several of tlie women of the 
company, and among them Mrs. Elmsley, who had come down to meet and 
welcome those for whose reception she had made every provision the 
hurried notice she had received would permit. The young officer had been 
the first to step on shore, and after he had whispered soiiiotiiing in her ear, 
she for a moment communicated with the group of women — then advanced 
to meet Mi^s Heywood, whom her lover was n.iw handing from the scow. 
S-lie embraced her with a tenderness so unusually ntf'ectinnate, that a vague 
consciou-ness of the true cau^e flashed across the mind of the anxious girl, 
recalling back all that inward giief of soul, which the deep omoiioii of an 
engrossing love had for a time absorbed. 

In less than lialf-au-hour the fugitives were installed in Ihe council h:dl, 
and ill anotlier small apartment, dividing it from the rooms occupied by the 
Elm>leys. The ensign, having seen that all was arranged in a suitable 
manner in the former, went out to the |)arade-groniid, leaving the ladies in 
charge of tlieir amiable hostess, and v{ the women she had smnmoned to 
a3^ist in bearing the latter into the Fort. 

On his way to Ids rooms, be met Ca|)tain Headley returning from an 
inspection of the defences. He saluted him, and was in the act of addressing 
liiiii in a friendly and familiar tone, when bo was checked l)y the sharply- 
uttered reinai k : 

■' So, .Mr, you are returned at last. It seems to mo that you have been 
much longer absent tijan was nccis^ary." 

The high spirit of the youth was chafed. "Pardon me, sir," ho answered 
haughtily, " if I contradict you. No cme of the least feeling would have 
thonghl, of removing sncli an invalid as Mrs. Ueywooii is, without using 
every care her condition reipiired. Have you any order-< for me. Captain 
Headley?" he concluded, in a more respeciful innnner, for he had become 
sensible, the moment , after he had spoken, of hii error iu thus evincing 
asperity under tlie reproof of his superior. 



THE FALL OF CHICACO. 57 

" Yi)U are officer of liio j^iuinl, I believe, Ur. Konayiio?" 

"No, sir, Mr. Eluisley relieved me tlii-< moroiiif;." 

At timt. iiioiiieiit tlie hist-named officer canie up, on Iiis 'V.iy t,i> tlio ensign's 
quarter,-!, when, tlie same question liiiving been \>nl ti) liim, ami answered in 
tiio artii'mative. Captain Ileadley desired that ihe, moment the tisliiny-party 
came in tliey .shoulil be reported to him. " And now, gentlemen," lie 
coTicInded, "I expect y6n butli to be parlicnlarly on the alert to-nii;ht. 
The absence of th:it tishing-party disti-esses me, au|l [ wunld give much that 
tliey were back." 

"■Cai>tain Headley," said the ensign, quickly and almost beseechingly, 
"let me pick out a dozen men from the company, and I pledge myself to 
restiire tlie party before mid-day to-morrow. Nay, sir," seeing strong 
surprise and disapproval on the countenance of the commandant, " I am 
ready to forfeit my commission if I fail " 

"Are you mad, Mr. Itomvyne, or do yon suppose that I am inad enough 
to entertain such a ]>ropositii)n, and thus weaken my force siill more ? 
Forfeit yoiu- commission if you fail ! Why, sir, you would deserve to forfeit 
your connnission, if you even succeeded in any tiling so wholly at variance 
with military prudence. Gentlemen, recollect what I have saiti — [ expect 
you to use the utmost vigilance to-niglit, and, Mr. Elmsley, fail not instantly 
to report the li-hing-boat.'" Thus enjoining, he passed slowly on to liis 
quarters. 

" D n your military prudence, and d n your pompous cold-blooded- 
ness!" muttered the fiery ensign between his teeth — scarcely waiting until 
liis captain was out of hearing. 

" Hush," interrupted Elmsley in a wliisper. '■ IIo will liear you. Ila!" 
lie continued after a short pause, during which they moved (Ui towards the 
mess room, " yoii begin to find out his amiable military qualities, do you? 
But tell me, Ronayne, what the denca has put this Quixotic e.\'pedition into 
your head? What great interest do you take in these lisliermen. that you 
should volunteer to break your shins in the wood, this dark night, for the 



purpose of seeking them, and that on the very d.ay when your lady e f aire 
honors these walls, if I may so dignify our stockade, with her presence for 
the first time. Come, come, tliaidc Ileadley for his refus.al. Wlien you sit 
down to-morrow morning, as I intend you shall, to a luxurious breakfast of 
tea, cofleo, fried veni-on, and buckwheat-cakes, yuu will tiud no reason to 
complain of his adherence to military prudence." 

"Elmsley," retinaiod his fiiend, seriously, "I can have no disguise fronj 
you at such a moment. You know my regard for Maria Hcywood, although 
you cannot divine its depth, and could I but be the means of saving her 
father, you can well understand the joy I should feel." 

"Certainly, my dear fellow, but you know as well as myself, that there 
exists not the shadow of a hope of this. That scarecrow, Giles, half-witted 
as he is, tells too straightfcn-ward a story." 

"Elmsl-ey," persisle<l his friend, "there is every hope — every reasonable 
ex|iectatioii that he may yet survive. Maria herself first opened my eyes to 
the possibility, for, until then, I had thought as you do; and deeply did her 
words sink in my heart, when she saiil, repr<iachfully, that, instead of sending 
a party to escort her, it would have been far better to dispatch them to tiro 
farm, where her father might, at that moment, be sustairung a siege — tlio 
house being strong enough to admit of a tenqiorary defence, by even a 
couple of |iersons." 

" And what said yon to that?" 

■•' What could I say ? I looked like a fool, and felt like a school-boy under 
the iron rod of a pedagogue — but I resolved." 

" And what did you resolve, my enterprising knight errant?" 

"You have just heard my ]iroposal to the gentleniim who pi(pics hint 
Belf n|ion liis military prudence," returned the youth, with bitter irony. 

"Yes, and lie refused you. What then ?" 

"True, and what then," and he nodded his head impatiently. 



68 SARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

" You will sleep upon it, my dear fellnw, after we Imve had a class of the 
Moiioii]u'ahela, and the pipe. Thus refreshed, you will tlduk better of it in 
the iiioruiiig." 

"We will liave the Monongahela and the pipe, for truly I feel ihat I 
require soniethiui; to soothe, if not absolutely to exbilarate nie ; but no sleep 
fur ine this ni^lit. Elinsley," he added, inoro seriously, "you will pass nie 
out of the gate?" 

"PassNou out of whift?" exchiinied the other, starling from the chair on 
which he had thrown himself only the moment before. " What do you 
mean, man?" 

" I mean that, as officer of the guard, you alone can pass me through after 
dark, and this service you must render me." 

" Why I where are you going? Single-handed like Jack the Giant Killer to 
dehver, not a beautiful damsel from the fangs of a winged monster, but a 
tough old backwoodsman from the dark paws of the savage ?'' 

" Elmsley," again urged the ensign, " you forget that Mr. Heywood is the 
father of my future wife." 

"Ah! is it come to that at hast. Well, I am right glad of it. But, my 
dear Ronayne," taking and cordially pressing his liand, " forgive my levity. 
I only sought to divert you from your purpose. What I can do for you, I 
will do ; but tell me what it is j'ou intend." 

" Yet, Elmsley, before we enter further into the matter, do you not think 
that you will incur the serious displeasure of Military Prudence ?" 

" If he discovers that you are gone, certainly ; and 1 cannot see how it can 
be otherwise; he will be in the fidgets all night, and |irobably ask for you; 
but even if not then^ he will miss you on parade in the morning." 

"And what will be the consequence to you? Answer me candidly, I 
entreat." 

" Then, candidly, Ronayne, the captain likes me nut well enough to jiass 
lightly over such a bro.ich of duty. The most peremptory orders have, since 
the arrival of this startling news, been given not to allow any one to leave 
the fort, and (since you wish me to be sincere) should I allow you to pass, 
it will go hard with my commission." 

" How foolish of me not to have thought of that before! How utterly 
stupid to ask that which I ought to have known myself; but enough, Elms- 
ley. I abandon the scheme altogether. You shall never iucur that risk for 
me." 

" Yet understand me," resumed the other, " if you really think that there 
is a hope of its proving more than a mere wild goose chase, I will cheerfully 
incur thai risk; but on my honor, Ronayne, I myself feel convinced that 
nothing you can do will avail." 

" Not another word on the subject," answered his friend ; " here is what 
will banish all care, at least for the present." 

His servant had just entered, and deposited on the niess-talile hot and cold 
water, sugar, lime-juice, pipes, tobacco, and tumblers ; when the two officers 
with Von Vottenberg who had just come in from visiting Mr. Heywood, .-at 
down to indulge their social humors. Whilst the latter, according to cus- 
tom, mixed the punch, which when made was pronounced to be his chef 
rf'ffiuiire, Elmsley .amused himself with cutting up the tobacco, and filling the 
pipes. The ensign, taking advantage of their occu))atiiui, indulged himself 
in a reverie that lasted until the beverage liad been declared ready. 

The presence of the doctor, acting as a check ujwu the further allusion by 
the friends to the topic that luid hitherto engrossed their atteniiun, the 
little conversation that ensued was of a general nature, neither of them, 
however, cared mucli to contribute to it, so tiutt the doctor loiind and pro- 
nounced them for that evening anything but entertaining companions. He, 
liowever, consoled himself with copious potations from the ininch-bowl, and 
filled the room with dense clouds of smoke, that were in themselves, suffi- 
cient to produce the drowsiness that Ronayne pleaded in excuse of his taci- 
turnity. 



THE FALL OF CHICAQO. 69 

After Ilis seoond glass, Elmsley, reminding tlie ensign tliat he expected 
him as well as the pnnch-brewer to breakfast with him in tlje moining at 
oiglit o'clock precisely, took his departure for the guard room, for the 
Uii'llU I 



CHAPTER VIII. 

It was about seven o'clock on tlie morning s'lcoeeding the occurrences 
dL'tiiled in ihe preceding chapters, that Lit-utenant Elnisley waited on tlie 
coiMiiian lin:; olficer, to relate that the lisliiuL' boat was at length in sight. 
Tiiese tidings were coniniunicatud as Captain Headlej" was preparing to sit 
down to breakfast — a retri'slmienr, to which the fatiijue of mind and body 
he had nnderirone during the night had not a little disposed him. True, 
■ liowover, to his cliaracter, he stayed not for the meal, but instantly arose, and 
taking his telescope accompanied the subaltern to the flagstaff battery, whence 
the be^t view of the river was commanded. 

" An}' thing to report, Mr. Eltn-ley ; but I presume not, or it scarcely 
would have been necessary for me to ask the question J" 

" Nothing, sir, of any cou-equence," repliel the lieutenant after a moment's 
liesitation, " beyond a slight altercation that took place between a drunken 
Pottowattamie and the sergeant of the guard — but it was of a nature too 
trivial to disturb you about," 

"What was it, Mr, Elmsloy?" inquired his superior, abruptly turning to 
him. 

" Tlio Indian who had probably been lying dead drunk during the day 
within the Fort, and had evidently just awakened from his sleep, was anxi- 
ous to go to his encampnaent, but the sergeant, strictly obeying the order he 
liad received from me, refused to open the' gale, which seemed to annoy the 
Indian very much. At that moment I came up, I knew well of course that 
the order was not meant to c^teiid rigidly to our Indian friends, the great 
mass of whom might be offended by the detention of one of their number, 
and I de-ired the sergeant to pass him through. Was I right, sir?" 

"Perfectly, Mr. Elmsley ; we must not oliend those of the Indian tribes 
that are disposed to ho friendly toward us, for no one knows how soon wo 
may require their aid. The official advices I have received not only frotn 
Detroit hut from Washington are of a nattiro to induce apprehension of hos- 
tilities between Great Britain and the United States; therefore, it would, as 
yini justly oliserve, and just now particularly, be extremely bad jiolicy to 
offend those whom it is so much our interest to conciliate. Still you ought; 
to have reported the circumstance to me, and not acted on your own respon- 
sibility," 

Lieutenant Elmsley bit his lip, and could scarcely control a movement of 
impatience. "lam glad, however, sir," he re-unicd after a pause, "that 
you find no fault with my conduct; I confess I had some little uneasiness on 
that 5C:ire, for with you I felt that. I had no right to assume the responsibil- 
ity, but I knew that you had retired to your rooms, and I w.as unwilling to 
disturb you," 

" You ought to have known, Mr. Elmsley, that where duty is concerned 
I can never ho di>tiirbed. However, no matter. What you did was ciu-- 
rectly done; only in future, fail not to make your report. The slightest 
unauthorized ste]i might be a false one, and tli.at, under all the circumstances, 
is to bo avoided." 

Whatever the subaltern thought of the seeming self-sufficiency wliich had 
dictated the concluding part of the lecture of the coniiiianding officer, ha 
made no further observation, and both in silence pursued the remainder of 
their short route to the bastion. 

Many of the men, dres.-ed and accoutred for the morning pnr.ado, which 
asually took place at about nine o'clock, were grouped around, and anxiously 
walohing iheappro.ach of the boat, as of something they had despaired of 



60 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

ever again betioliling. Captain lleadley drew Iiio tclcicnpe to tlie proper 
focn?, and after looking tlirongli it ft lew niii)nifs — reniariieil — 

"Thank Heaven, all is rigli; — tliey arc all tliure, althougli it is qnite nnnc- 
cnuntable to me liow tliey could liave been deiained until lliis morning. 
And, oh ! it seems they have takeji a heavy dran^rht offish, tor, although I 
cannot see the bottom of the boat, tlieir teet are raised as if to i)revent 
crnshing or injnring something beneatli them. But lioUl ! there is something 
wrong, too. I do not see the nsnal nnmber of muskets piled in the stern. 
How can tliis be, Mr. Elnisley ?" 

" Perlia])s tliere is not the same nnmber of men," snggested tlie lientenant 
— " some of them, for causes connected with their detention, may be coming 
by land." 

"Not at all. There are seven men. I think seven men compose the 
fishing party ; do they not?'' 

"Si.x men, besides the non-commissioned officer; yes, sir." 

"I can make out Corporyl Nison, for he is steering and facing me, bnt fir 
the others, I do not know tliem well enough to distinguish. Here, Mr. 
Ebnsley, take the glass, and try what yon can make of them." 

The lieutenant gazed through the gl.-i.ss a moment, and then jirononnced 
name after name, as the men severally came under the range of the lens. 
"Yes, sir, as you saj-, tliere is Corporal Nixon steering — theii, with their 
backs to US, and pulling, are first, Collins, then Green, then Jackson, then 
Weston, then Cass, and then Philips. But what they have in the bntioni 
of the boat, for I now can see tinu plain enough, is not fish, sir, bnt a human 
body, and a dog crouched at its side. Yes! it is indeed the Frenchman's 
dog — Loup Garon." 

"Well, I want to know!" exclaimed Ephraim Giles, who had ascended 
the bastion, and now stood amid the group of men, " I t.ake it, that if 
that's Lnup Gaiou, his master caji't be lar oil". I never knowed tliem to be 
separate." 

" Yes, sir, that is certaiidy a dead body," pursued the lieutenant — "sotne- 
body killed at the farm, no doubt. H.ive you any orders fi.r the direction 
of tlie party, when they land, sir?" be inquired, as he handed back the glass 
to the captain. 

"Just desire the drum to beat to parade," was the answer. "It wants 
only a few minutes of guard-mounling, and by the tin^.e the men have f;dleQ 
in, and the roll is called, the boat will be here. Where is Mr. llonayne ?" 

"I have not seen him this morning, sir, but believe that he is in hiij 
own rootiis. He, however, knows the hour, and doubtless will be here 
presently." 

" When the men have fallen in, cotno and repcrt to me," said ilie captain, 
as he descended from the bastion, and proceeded to his own quarters, to oat 
Ins uuUisted breakfast. 

The lieuienant touched bis cap in assent, and then, having despatched a 
man with orders to the temporary drum-major, crossed over to tlie apart- 
ments of the ensign, anxious not only to excuse himself for not being able 
to receive bis friend to his own breakfast, at the hour he had named, but to 
prepare him for the reception of the body of Mr. Heywood, which lie 
doubted not, w.as that now on its way for interment at his own liuuse. 

On entering tlie mess-room, in which they had taken tlieir ininch, the 
previous evening, everything bore evidence of a late dehauth. Ashes and 
tobacco were liberally strewed upon tlie table, while arouml the einpl\' 
bowl, were, in some disorder, pipes and glasses — one ot eacii emptied of all 
but the ashes and sediment— the other two only half-smoke'l, hall-full, ami 
standing amid a pool of wet, which had evidenily been .spilt by a not, very 
steady hand. The windows were closed, .so that the smoke clung to wliat 
little furniture there was in the room, and the wlmle .scent of the place was 
an abominable compound of stale tobacco and strong whisky. 

A. loud snoring in the room on liii right attracted his attention. He knew 
that it was Von Votteuberg's, and he entered to see what liad kept liiiii in 
Led until that iato hour. The surgeon, only half undressed, was last asleep, 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 61 

rot within, but on tlie oiit>i<le of tlio bed-clotlies. Somewhat dissusted at 
the sight, Ibi' £hii>Iey was comparatively ab:<temii)as, lie ;.hool< liim not very 
gently, when tlie dooior. opening his eyes wiih a start, lialt'-^o^e npon hid 
elho". '■ Ha !' he exelaimeil, "I know yon mean to say that breaktiist is 
wailing; I had forgotten all about it, old fellow." 

" 1 mean nothing of the kind,'' was the ivply, " bnt I recommend you to 
lose no time in dres.-iiig and turning out. Tlie men are already on parade, 
atid if C;i|itain lleadley, tinding tliat you are absent, sends over here to 
iiKluire the cause, I would not give much for your futta'e chances of swal- 
lowing wiiisky-|nm<;h within the walls of (J)iicago." 

"Eii? what! what 1" .-spluttered the surgeon, as ho jumped up, drew on 
his boot.*, dipped hi-i face in r. h-.iAu of water, and hasiiiy completed bis 
toilet. In less than tive minutes he was on parade. 

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Elmsley, after .giving this warning. Lad passed 
again through the mess-room, and knocked at Uomtyne's door. JJut there 
was no answer. 

" llilloa, lvoiK%yne," he c;illed loudly, as he turned the handle of the latch, 
" are you in bed too?" 

liut no Ilonayne was there. IIo looked at the bed — like the doctor's, it 
had been laid upon, but no one had been within the clothes. 

What was tiie meainng of this? After a few moments of delay, he iiew 
back to Von Votten berg's room, but the latter was already gone. Retracing 
his steps, he met Kon.-iyne's servant entering at the mess-room door. 

" Where is your master?" he inquired. "IIow is it that he is not in his 
room— lias not been in bed ?" 

" Not been in be<l ?'' repeated the lad, with surprise. " Why, sir, he told 
me last night that he was very drowsy and shcnild lie late; and, that he 
mightn't be disturbed, he desired me to slee|) in one of the block-houses. I 
was oidy to wake him in time for guard-mounting, and as it wants but ten 
minutes to that, I am just come to call him." 

"Clean out the mess-room directly — open the windows, and put every 
thing in order," said the lieutenant, fearing that Captain lleadley might, on 
hearing of the absence of the young officer, p.ay his (juarters a visit in search 
of some clue to the cause. " I see it all," lie mused, as be moved across the 
parade-ground. "Ho would not, generous fellow, get me into a scrape, by 
waking me privy to his design, and to avoid the difficulty of the gate, has 
got over the pickets somewhere — yet, if s", he must have had a rope, and 
assistance of some kind, for ho never could have crossed them without. 
Yet, where can he be gone, and what could he have expected to result from 
his mad scheme? Uad lie wiiited until now, he would have known by the 
arrival of the fifhing- party with their sad charge, how utterly useless was 
all this ri>k." 

" Well, Mr. Elm.sloy," said the captain, who now aiipeared at the front 
of his own door, fully dressed for parade, and pre[)aring to issue forth ia all 
the siateliness of comiiiand. 

" The ptirade is formed, .■•ir," remarked the lieutenant, confusedly, " but I 
cannot hnd the officer of the guiird." 

"Sir!" exclaimed Captinn lleadley. 

" 1 cannot find Mr. Itonayne, sir — I have myself been over to his quarters, 
and looked into his bed-room, but it is clear that he has not been in bed all 
night." 

" What is the meaning of all this? Send Doctor Von Vottenberg hero 
immediately." 

And lucky was it for that gentleman that the officer who now desired 
his attendance on the commandant had roused him from that Lethean 
slumber in which he had been, only a lew minutes before, so liixuriou.sly 
indulging. 

" Doctor Von Vottenberg," commenced the captain, as soon as that 
official made his a|ipeaiaiice before him; "yon are cpiartered with Mr. 
Roii.ayne. Have ymi seen miy thing of bim last night or this morning — no 
evasion, nay," i-eeing that the doctor's brow began to bo overclouded, "I 



€2 HARDSCSABBLE ; OR, 

mean no attempt to shield the young man by a suppression of the 
tnitli." 

" 1 certainly saw him last night, Captain lleadloy, but not at a very lata 
bour. We toolc a ghiss or two of pimcli, and smoked a coii|>le of pipes 
■together, bnt wo both went to bed early, and for my part, I know tliat I 
slept so soundly as to liave lieard notliiii!; — seen nothing, uatil I got up this 
morning." 

Tlie doctor spoke truly as to tlie time of tlieir retirement to rest, fur the 
ensign Ijad left liim early in the night, while lie had found liis way to liis own 
bed, early in the morning. 

"The boat is nearing the landing-place, sir," reported the sergeant of 
the guard, who now came up, and more immediately addressed LieiitonanI; 
Elinsley. 

Tliis information, for tlie moment, banished the subject under discussion. 
" Let tlie men jiile their arms," ordered Ca[)tain Ileadley ; '• and when this is 
done, Mr. Elmsley, follow me to tlie huiding-jdMOe." 

In a few minutes hoth officers were there. The boat was within fifty 
yards, wlien the subaltern joined Ids cnplain; and the oarsmen, evidently 
desirous of doing their best in the presence of the commanding officer, were 
pulling silently and with a vigor that soon brought it to its accustomed 
berth. 

" What body is tliat, Corporal Ni.von ?" inquired tlio latter, "and how is it 
that you are only here this morning?" 

" Sir," answered the corporal, removing one of his hands from the steer- 
oar, and respectfully touching liis cap, " it's poor Le Noir, the Frencliman, 
killed by the Injins yesterday, and as for our absence, it couldn't bo lielped, 
sir; but it's a long report I have to make, and perhaps, cajitain, you would 
like to hear it more at leisure th.'in I can tell it iiere." 

By this time the men bad landed from the boat, leaving the Canadian to 
be disposed of afterwards as tlie commanding officer miglit direct. The 
quick eye of the latter immediately detected the slight limping of Green, 
whose wound had become stiff from neglect, cold, and tlie cram[ied position 
in which he had been sitting in the boat. 

" What is tlie matter with this man ?" he inquired of the corporal. " What 
makes him walk so stilly ?" 

"Nothing much the luatter, captain," was the indifferent reply. "It's 
•only a ball he got in his leg in the scrimmage last night." 

"Ha! the first gun-sliot wound that Inis come under my treatment during 
the tliiee long years I have been stationed here. Quick, my fine fellow, take 
yourself to the hospital, and tell the orderly to prepare my instruments for 
probing." 

" Scrimmage last night ; what do you mean, Corporal Nhton — wliom had 
you the scrimmage with ?" 

These remarks fell at the same moment from the lips of tlie coinmander 
and tliose of the surgeon, the latter rubbing his bands with delightful antici- 
pation of tJie treat in store for him. 

" With the Indians, captain," replied Nixon ; " the Indians that attacked 
Mr. Ileywood's farm." 

" Captain Headley," interrupted the lieutenant, with unusual deference of 
manner, for he was anxious that no further reference should bo made (o tho 
subject in presence of the invalids and women, who, attracted b_\' the news 
ot tlie arrival of tlie boat, had gathereil around, partly from curiosity, partly 
for the purpose of getting their expected supply of fish, "do you not think 
it better to examine Corporal Nixon first, and then the others in turn?" 

" Very true, Mr. Elmsley, I will examine them separately in the orderly- 
room to see how far their statements agree; yet one question you can 
answer here, corporal. You say that it is the body of Le Noir, killed by 
the Indians. Where is Mr. lleywood, tlitii?" 

The generous Elmsley felt fiiint, ab-olutely sick at heart on hearing this 
question; the very object he had in view in proposing this private examina- 
tiou was thereby threatened with disooinfii,nre. 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 63 

•'Mr. Ileywoocl lias been carried off bv the Indiana," calmly replied the 
ooi-po!-al, yet perceptibly paling as he sjiol^e. 

"Indeed! tlii-; is uiifiii-tiii:ate. Let the inen go to their bai-raek?, and 
(here remain until I ^end I'm- tbem," ordered the coniniandarit. '■ Yon, cor- 
poral, will come to me at the orderly-room, in half an hour tVom this. That 
will be snffieient lime I'or you to clean your.si-U', and take your breakfast. 
None of your party, 1 presume, have had their breakfast yet?'' 

"No, your honor," ans'.vered Green, who seemed to fancy that Ids wound 
gave him the privile.:^e of a little license in the pre>ence of bis chief, "nut 
unless an obi turkey, the grandl'ather of fit'ty broods, and as tough as shoe- 
leather, can be c;dled a breakfast." 

Captain lleadley l.ioked at the speaker .sternly, but took no other notice 
of wiiat he, evidently, deemed a very great liberty, than to demand how he 
presumed to disobey the order of the surgenn. Then desiring him to pro- 
ceed forthwiih to the hospiial and have his leg dressed, he himself withdrew 
after postponing the |iarade to one o'clock. 

"And are yon sure, Nixon, that Mr. Ileywood has lieen carried oft" by the 
Indian-;," asked Lieutenant Ehnsley, the revulsion of whose feelings on liear- 
ing the corporal's answer to the question put by Capt.ain Headley had been 
in striking contrast witli what he liad experienced only a monient before; 
"are you quite sure of this?" 

The interrogatory was put, immediately after the commanding officer had 
retired, doubtingly, in a low tone, and a]iart from the rest of the men. 

" I saw them carry him otF mysell", sir," again deliberately said the cor- 
poral. "The whole of the party saw it too." 

"Enough, enougli," pursued the lieutenant, in a friendly tone. " I believo 
yon, Nixon. But another question. Were you joiiied last night by any 
one of the regiment ? recollect yourself." 

The corporal declaring that, nothing in the shape of an American uniform 
had come under his notice, since he departed from the Fort the preceding 
evening, the officer next turned his atleniion to the boat. 

'■ What are yon fumbling about tlierj, Collins?" he asked, rather sliarpl\ — 
" Why do you not go and join your i' ess ?" This was said as the rest of tlie 
party were now in the act of moving off with their muskets and fishing 
!l])paratus. 

'• Poor fellow I" interposed the coi-poral, " he is not himself to-day ; but I 
nm sure, Mr. EInisley, you will not be hard upon him, when I tell you that, 
but for him, there wouldn't bo a man of us here of the whole party." 

"Indeed !'* exclaimed the lieutenant, not a little surprised at the informa- 
tion ; " but we shall hear all about that presently ; yet what is he fidgctting 
about at the bottom of the bow of the boat?" 

"There's aiuither body there, sir, besides Lo Noir's. It's that of the poor 
boy at Hey wood's — in Indian scalped him and left him for dead. Collins, 
who put a bullet into the same fellow, not an hour afterwards, found the boy 
by accident, while retreating from the [dace where we had the first scrim- 
mage with the red devils, lie was still breathing, and he took everj- jiains 
to recover him, but the cold night air was too much for him, aiul he died in 
the poor f<3low's arni-i." 

" Well, tliis is a strange night's adventure, or rather series of adventures," 
remarked the lieutenant half aside to himself. "Then, I suppose," ho 
resumed, more immediately addressing the cor|)oral, "he has brouglit the 
body of the boy to have him interred with Le Noir?" 

"Just so, sir, for he mourns him as if he had been his own child," answered 
Nixon, as the officer dep.-irted — " here, Loup Garou, Loup Garou," and he 
whistled to the dog. " Come along, ol I fellow, and get some breakfast." 

l$nt Lonp Gaion would not stir at the cidl of his new master. Sorrow 
was the only feast in which he seemed inclined to indidge, and he continued 
to crouch near the body of the Canadian as impassible unil motionless as if 
he was no longer of earth him-elf. 

"Come along, Collins," gently urged the Virginian, approaobing the boat, 
'*hero the former was still feeling the bo.soin of the dead boy, in the vaia 



61 HARDSCHABUI.E : OR, 

hope of finding tli.it life was not yet extinct. " It's no nse tliinkinj; .-.bout it; 
j-oii liave (lone your duty !is Ji soldier, nnd iis .i j^ooi] nnin, hnt yon see ho is 
gone, ami there is no liel|> for it. By and liy. we will Imiy fliein botli 
togellier; but come along imw. 'J"lie d<ig will let indiody near llieni." 

'■ D.'vli me, corpoinl, if I ever felt so (pieer in niy lifel" answeri-d Collins, 
in !i meliuudnily tone, strongly in contr.'ist wiili liis liabitnal lirn-i|ne gaiety ; 
"but, as yon say, it's no nsi-. Tlie poor lad is dead enon:;li at la-i, and luy 
only c<inifiirt now is to bnry liini, and sometimes look at bis gra>e." 

Tlie half-hour given by Captain lleadley to llie men to clean themselves 
and eat their breakfasts, alfoidi'd liis subaltern ample time lo t.'dce Ids own, 
■vvliieli had all ihis time been wailing. When he reac^hed !ii^ rooms he fonnil 
that he had another ordi-al to go tliroiigli. Mrs. Elm-ley was already at tho 
head of the ttihle, and ]ionring out the coffee, willi Miss lleyuooil setited on 
lier left — the latter very ]iale, and having evidently jiassed a sleepless night. 
As the officer entered the room, a slight iiusli overspread hvr features, for 
she looked as if she exptcled him tr> be accompaiMe<l liy ani/ther, liui. when 
lie hastily niibuckled his sword, and ijlace<l it, with his ca(i, on aside-table, 
de.siring his wife to lo>e no time in pouring out the coffee, as he must be off 
again iimnediately, she felt, she knew not wlierefoVe. very sick at heart, and 
became even |ialer than before. Nor was she at all re-assured by the tone 
of commiseration in wliich, after drawing ji, chair to her side, and affec- 
tionately pressing her hand, he inquired after her own and her mother's 
licalth. « 

" Why, George," said Mrs. Elmsley, who remarked ihis change in her 
friend, and in some degree divined tlie cause, " where are Mr. Konayne and 
the doctor? You told me last niglit they were to breakfast liere — and see, 
one, two, three, four, five cups (pointing at each w iih her finger), J have 
prepared accordingly. Iiideeil, I scarcely think this young lady would have 
made her appearance at the breaklast-lable, had slie not expected to meei — 
who was it, my dear?" and she turned an arch look upon her friend — ''ah ! 
I know now — Von Vottenberg." 

'■Nay, I have no more need of disguise frcmi yi ur husband than from 
yourself, Margaret," replied Miss lleyuood, her coloi ,iig chefk in a measure 
contradicting her words — "it was Harry Uouayne I expected; but," she 
adde<!, with a faint smile, " tlo not imngine I nin <piite so romainic as not to 
be able to take my breakfast, because he is not present to share it; iherefore 
if yoti please, I also will tronhle yon for a cnp of coftVe." 

"All in good time," remarked Mrs. Elmsley. "I dare .say, Ronayne is 
engaged in some duty whi(-h has iireveiited him from keeping his engage- 
ment as ]iunctiially as he could have desired. We shall certainly see him 
before the breakfast things are removed." 

" It seems to me," said her hnsb.and, who was taking liis iiic.al with the 
appetite of any other than a hungry man, and even with a shade of vexation 
on his featnres, " that you all appear to be very much in the dark livie. 
Why, Margaret, have you not heard what h;is occi:rred during the night, as 
well as this moriiing?" 

"How should 1 have lie.ard any thing, Georgfi ?" replied Mrs. Elni.sley. 
"I have seen no one since yon went out this morning — wht^-eoidd have 
communicated news from without ? Surely you ought lo know that. Will 
yon iiave more cott'ee ?" 

"No, thank you — I have no apjielite for coffee or for any thing else. I 
almost wish I had not come. Dear Maria," he added, imy.etuou.-ly, taking 
Miss Hey wood's hand in his own ; '"I know you have a noble — a courageous 
heart, and can bear philosophically wlial I have to tell you." 

"1 can bear iiiurh," was the reply, accompanied hy a forced smile, that 
was contradicted by the ipiiveiing of tiio compressed lip; "and if I could 
not, I find I must begin to learn. Yet wliat can ynii have to tell me, my 
dear Mr. Elmsley, more than 1 already divine — my poor father — " and the 
tears started from her eyes. 

"Ha! there at least, 1 have comfort for yon — although there h.as been 
sad work at tho farm — the fishing-party have come iu with the bodies of 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. G5 

poor Lo Noir and tlie boy Wiltun, but tliey all say ibat Mr. Ileywond was 
carried utt' a |irisoiier l>y llio Iinliaiis." 

" Oarried off a |>ri-iiiier," ri.'|icaii'd Miss Ilcy wood, a sudden glow animating 
her |iale leatureo — ''oli! Elmslev, tliank ymi t^r tluit. There in still a Imjio 
then V" 

"There is indeed a hope; bnt, dearest Mi<s Ileywoood, why must I he:d 
with line iiar.d mid wound with the other. It I give conijiarative good 
iie-v.s of yonr fatlier. thtre is another who onudit ;o be here, and whoso 
ab.scnco at this nMnieiit is to ino at onco a p.iin and a mystery." 

"Yon nie.-iii Harry Konayne ?'" sho taid, hesitatingly, but without mani- 
festing surprise. 

" Where the foolish fellow has gone," he coiilinned, '■ I do not know, but 
he has disap|)eared from the Fort, nor has he k-fi the Slightest clue by which 
he may be traced." 

"D.ies Ga|iiain Ile.'idley know this*''. she ini|uired, recollectinj that part 
of the conversaiion that had pas-ed lietweeii them the preceding day, in 
reference to the siicpor that niiiilit have been afforiled at the farm. 

" lie does. 1 jiiade the report of Konayne's absence to him personally, 
ami tile doctor was summonei! to stale if ho hail seen any tiling of him. 
lie, however, was as ignirant .as a man, who had been drunk diiriug the 
night, and wjis not yet (|uite solier in the inorning, could well be. Tho 
ca]itain was as inucli snrpri ed as displeased, but furtlier impiiry was delayed 
oil the sergeant of the guard coming up and anmuincing the near a|iproac!l 
of the boat containing [lie rtsidng-party." 

"Tell me, dear iMr. Elinsley," said Miss Hey wood, after a few moments 
of Seeming refleition ; '-what is uiur own oiiinion oif the matter? Uoiv 
do you account — -or have }ou at all endeavored to account for Ronajne's 
ab.sence V 

"i can easily understand the cause," he replied. '■ but confound me if I 
can .itti.'mpt to divine the means he took to accomplish his obje(M." 

lie then proCA-eded to relate the circnm-tances of his propo^.-il to C.ipLain 
Ileadlev— the ahrn|jt refusal he had met with — Ids subsequent application to 
li)iiiseli to p.iss him out of the gale, and the final aliandonmei't of his i eqnest 
when ho found that his acxjniesceiice would seriously compromise him, as 
otlici-r of the guard. 

" N'oble li.ariy!" thought Miss lleywood — "your confusion, yonr vexation 
of ye~l<.-rday, arose from not being able to lollow your own f;cnerons 
impulses: bm now I fully nmlerstaiid the resolve you secretly m-ule — and 
all for my sake. D.i not think mo very romantic," she said nloud to Mrs. 
Elmsley, "hut really, MargMi-e', I c.iunot de-|iair thai all will \et, anil 
h|ieeilily, be well. The only fear I entertain is ihnt tlie siricl Ouptaiti 
Jleadlev may rebuke him in terms that will call up all the lire of hi- na:nre, 
and mluce .i retort that may prove a source of serous misunderstiuiding — 
unless, indeed, the greiitness of the service rendered, plead his jiistificalion." 

'• Now that «e are on the subject, dear .Miss lleywood," remarked Elmsley, 
" let me once for all d.siibuse \on of an imiiression which 1 fear yon <'nter- 
tain^or i- it. so? Do you think that lionawie lias had an opportunity of 
joining the party at the larm ?' 

" Oei taiiily, 1 do," she .inswered, grttvely, " or why should he have g me 
forth? I'rav do not roti me of what little coinlori, in e.xpectation, 1 hava 
letl.-' 

■■Tiiat he went lorlh madly and .singl.-handed for the piirpo.se, I c&n 
believe — nav, 1 am sure of ii ; but J grieve to add that he has nut been seril 
\liere." 

"This, iiideiil, is strange,' slie returned in filtering tones, and with ili- 
disgiiiseil emotion, for, hitherio she had lieen susiaiiieU by the belief that he 
was iiK-rely lingering behind the I'aity, in order to satisfy him-elf of f.iets, 
;'ie dvtail ol widen could not tad to be ratislitctory to her ear. " How 
know yon this?" 

"I qiie-tioiied Gor|ioial Ni.ion, who commanded the [larty, and who 
r./; ri.s.d me ol Mr. Heyuood's having been c;irried otl by the Jndians, fur 



60 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

I wns clee])ly anxious, as you may piesiime, to know what li.iU booome of 
my (ricnd— and tliis f;ir less even tbi- my own sake than 1'or ydni-s." 

" Anil liis answer was?" and there was dee|j iiieianchuly in the question. 

"That ni> Anienoan uniforni had come uniltr his notice uuringliis absence 
from the Fort, save tlio.-.e of the ])arty he ccnnmanded. These, as'far as I 
can recollect, were his precise words." 

"Mr. Ehii.iley," said a sentry, who now appeared at the <Ioor of the 
breakt'ast-parlor, " Captain Ileadley waits for yon in the orderly room." 

" Is Corporal Nixsii there?" asked the lieutenant. 

" He is, sir." 

" Good, Dixon, I shall be there immediately." 

"God bless yoii," he continued, to Sliss Heywood, when the man had 
departed. " We shall, perliaps, elicit from him, something that will thrtnv 
a liglit upon the obscure pan oi this matter. Margaret, do not leave the 
dear girl alone, but clieer up her spirit--, and make her hope for the best." 

So saying, he sliook her hand ufl'cction.'itely, pnslied hack his c-liair from 
the table, and resuming his cap and sword, left the friends together, promising 
to return as soon as the examination of tlie man should be concluded. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Mn. Heywood's hi.story may be told in a few words. He was the son of 
an officer who had served in one of the Amtrican partizan cor[is, during the 
Revolution, and had been killed at the attack made by General Green upon 
the stronghold of Ninety-Six, in the South. At that time he was a mere 
youth, and found hiiiiself a few years after, and at the ago of eighteen, 
without fortune, and wholly dependant u|ion his own resources. The war 
being soon ended, his naturally enteiprising disposition, added to great 
physical strength, induced him to unite himself with one of tlie many bands 
of adventurers that poured into the then, wilds of Kentucky, where, 
within five year.^, ami by dint of mere exertion and industry, he amassed 
money enough to enable him to repair to Charleston, in Soutli Carolina, and 
espouse a lady of considerable larided property, with wliom he liad formed 
a ])artiul engagement, prior to his eiittiiug ou that adventurous life. The 
only fruit of this union was a daughter, and here, as far a.* fortune was con- 
cerned, they might have enjoyed every eonjfort in life, for Mrs. Heywood's 
property was princi[ially situated in the neighborhood, but her husband was 
of too restless a nature to content himself with a sedentai'y life. He had at 
the outset embarked in commerce — the ex))erience of a few years, however, 
conviuciug him that he was quite uiisuited to such pursuits, lie had the 
good sense to abandon them before his affairs coidd be involved. He next 
attempted the cultivation of the estate, but this tailing to afford him the 
excitement he craved, he suddenly took leave of his family, and placing 
every thing under the control of a manager, once more obeyed the strong 
impulse, which urged him again to Kentucky. Here, following a> a passion 
the occupation of liis earlier years, lie passed several seasons, scarcely com- 
municating during tliat period, with his amiable and gentle wife, for wliom, 
however, as well as for liis daughter — now fifteen years of age, and growing 
rapidly into womanhood — he was by no means wanting in atfection. JJor 
was his return home then purely a matter of choice. Although neither 
quarrelsome nor dissipated in his habits, he had had the misf'ortnne to kill, 
in a duel, a young lawyer of good family who had accomiianied him to 
Kentucky, and had consequently fled. Great exertions were made by the 
relatives of the deceased to have him arrested on the plea that the duel, the 
result cf a tavern disjiute, had been unfair on the part of the survivor. As 
there was some slight ground for this charg;', the fact of Mr. Heywood's 
flight aiiorded inciea-td piv>umpiion of his guilt, and such was the ]iublicit,y 
given til tlio matter by his enemies, that the rumor soon reached Charleston, 
and finally, the ears of his family. 



THS FALL OF CUICAOO. ' fi'I 

Rcveiiling. in tliis extruniily, liis ti'iie position to Iiis wife, Mr. Ileywood 
<lccl:u\'<l it to be liis inteiilion (jitlier to cross the sea, or to Imry liiinwlf 
foiC-ver in the remotest ciiil xm] [jurlioii oC tlieir own coiitiiie:it, ]c\iviii;T her 
Jio .vevei', to the undisturbed possession of tlie pro[)erty site liad biouijht liiui, 
wihcli would of course descend lo t!ieir child. 

J>iK. Mrs. Ileywuod would Jiot listen to thi-i propos.ll. Althoujjh she Imd 
much to ooniphun of, and to p.-dn her, id! recollection of the past faded 
from lier inein<nT, when s!io beiield her husband in a position of danger, 
and even in some degree of hiuniliation, f u- she was not iguurant that eveit 
in the eyes of peojjle not over .-crupulous, inetl'acL'able infamy attaciies to the 
man, who, in a duel, aims wdih uniair delibi-ration at tlie life of Ills opponent; 
and anxious to s..ti.--fy herself that such a stain rested not on the father of 
her chdd, she conjured him to tell her if such really was the case. He 
solemnly denied the fact, altlici^h he admitted there were certain appear- 
ances a^'aiust bim, which, slight as ihey were, his enennes bad sougbt to 
deepen into proofs — and in the difBcully of disiu-oving these lay bis chief 
embarrassment. 

The tone — the manner — the whole demeanor of Mr. Heywood carried 
CAjnvicliun witli his denial, and his wile at once expressed her determination 
to renuunee for bis sake, all tliO!>e local lie.; and tissociations by which she 
bad becti surrounded from childhood, and fobow bis fortunes, whithersoever 
ihey migbt lead. Thi.s, she jier-isted, she way the more ready and willing to 
do, because her daughter's education having been some mouths completed, 
under the best masters, there was now no anxiety on her account, other 
than what might arise from her own sense of the contemplated change. 

ilaria Heyvt'ood was acc(U'dingly summoned to the consultation — made 
acquainted with ber father's position, and the necessity for his instant 
departure from that section of the country — and finally told that with ber it 
rested to decide, not only whether be should go .alone, but if tliey accom- 
panied him, whether it should be to Kurope, or to the Far West. 

"Rest with me to decide!'' exciaiiiied tljo warm-hearted girl as she threw 
herself into her mother's arms. '• Oli, bow good of you both thus to consult 
me, whose duty it is to obey. But do not tldnk that it is any privation for 
me to leave ibis. I cannot claim t!ie poor merit of the sacrifice. I liave uo 
enjoyment in cities. Give me tbe solitude of r.aiure, books, and music, and 
1 will live in a wigwam withont regret." 

"Dear enthusiast," said Mrs. Heywood, i)res>ing her fondly to ber heart; 
" I knew well in what spirit would be your answer. You decide then for 
the Far \Ve>t ?" 

" Oh, yes, dear mamma! the F.ir West for me — no Europe. Give me the 
tidl, dense forests of our own noble land ! I desire no other home— long 
liave I pictured to myself the vast lakes — the trackless woods and tlie 
boundless prairies of that region of which I have re.ad so inueb, and now," 
she concluded, with exultation, " iny fondest wishes will be realized, and I 
bliall jiass my lite in the midst of them. But, dear papa, to what particular 
spot <lo We go V' 

■' To Chicago, my noble girl I I; is the remotest of oiu' Western posses- 
sions, anil quite a new country. There I nuiy b'lpe to pass unheeded, but 
bow wdl you, dear Maria, endure being buried alive tljei^, when so many 
advaiila^'es await you here J" 

■' Only figuratively, papa," she reiilied with a pensive srmle stealing over 
lier fine intellectual features. "Have no fear, for mo on that score, for 
depend upon it, with so inueh natural beauty to interest, it will be my own 
I'aull, if 1 sutler myself to be buried alive. What think you, dear nuimma?" 
'• I think with \ou, my obild," replied .Mrs. Ileywood, looking ap[)ruvingly 
ut her daugliter, '" that it is our duty, as it as-iiivdly will be our lllea^l^■e to 
a.'company yo.ir father wherever iie may g'>.'' 

It was now arranged that Mr. Ileywood, fnrnislied with a ooiisiJerablo 
fUM of money in gold, should set out alone on the following night for their 
iie-v de.^lin.uuin, mid make the necessary preparations lor their reception, 
while his wife, through her agent, should endeavor to di.sjiose of the estate. 



68 HARD3CRADBLK ; OH, 

As it. would require some time for tlii-*, and as tlie arrangements at Cliieago 
could not well ()« com|ilete<l within several inontlis, it was settleil tliat tlicy 
should meet at Albany, early in the fiillowing niitiiinii, where they shonld 
proceed to taUe possession of their new abi'do. For his better security and 
freedom t'vnwx interriiption, Mr. lleywood, while travellinir, was to assnnie a 
feigned name, but his own was to be resumed immediately after his arrival 
at (Jhica^o, for neither he nor his fauiily conid for a moment think of 
increasing' the suspicion of gnilt, by eontinuirig a name that was not their 
own ; and, finally, as a last measure of precaution, the free servants of the 
establishment, had, with the exception of Catharine, whom they were to 
take with them, been discharged, while a pnreliascr having fortunately been 
found, the slaves, with the estate, were handed over to a new master, 
proverbial (iir liis kindtiess to tliat usually oppressed race. By these meaii.s 
they tumid themselves |)rovided with funds more tiian adequate lo all their 
future wants, the great bulk of the ^uui arising from the sale of the estate 
btiiig vested in two of the most stable banks of tiie Uniuii. 

With the money he took with liiin, carefully depo-ited in his sad<llebng^!, 
for he performed the whole of the journey on horsehaek, Mr. lleywood had 
caused tlie cottage already described, to be built and furnished from Detroit, 
in what, at that period, and so completely at the idiima thule of American 
civilization, was considered a st>le of great lu.\ury. lie had, however, 
shortly prior to his setting out fir .\lbany, purcha-sed several hundred acres 
of land, .-ibout two miles up the Southern bram-li of the Chicago, leaving 
instructions with Le Noir, whom he li:id eng.aged for a long term of .service, 
to erect upon it a log building and outhou-es. This he had been induced to 
<lo from tli.it .-icliing desire for physical exertion which )iad been familiar to 
liiin from boyhood, and which ho felt could never be sufficiently indulged 
within the limiied compass of the liitle vill.ige itself — -ulijected as he mu-t 
be to the ob-ervation of tlie curious and the impertinent. He returned 
from Albany after a t'nw months' ab-ence, in the auriimn of ]8un, bringing 
■with him his Iriemls who occunied. the cottage, while he himself oblaineil 
their assent that he --hniild iiih:cbit the farm house, completed soon alter his 
return. Ilere*lie cut wiih his own hand<, m.-my a cmd of the wood that lii.s 
servants floated down in rafts, not only for his own family, but to supply the 
far more extensive wants of the garrison, with « hicli, however, lie had 
litile or no intercourse, beyond that resuliing from his bu-iness relations. 

Such was the condition of things at the period at which our narrative lias 
opened. Maria lleywood had now been three years an occupant of the 
cottage, and within that, time solitude and habits <if reflection had greatly 
jnatured her mind, as \ears had given every womanly grace to her per>on. 
The past had also tended much to form her cluiracter. upon wliiili the 
develoimient of physical be.iuty so often de|ieitds. At her tirsl df:liut into 
society at Ch.-irlestou, in her h>urteenth ycai — an age that would have been 
considered premature, but for the rapidity with which form and inielleet. are 
kiiowii to ripeu in that precocious climate — she had received, but listened 
■with indifference to the vapid compliments of men wdmse sha'lo.vness she 
was not .-low to detect, and whose homage conveyed rather a fulsome 
tribute to her mere pcisiiiial beauty, than a correct appreciation of her lieart 
and understanding. Not that it is lo be interred ihat she prided heivelf 
imdnly upon this latrer. but because it was by tli.it standard of conduct 
chieliy, tli.it she was enabled to judge of the minds of tho-e who evinced .so 
iiiiperfec; a knowledge of the female heart, when, emerging fr.mi the gaiety 
of girlhood, it pa-ses into the ea.'iie-tness of womanly I'eeling. 

liiit although culd^aliiio.-.t lepellaut t.o all wbo h.-id poured their ephemeral 
And seldom varying homage in lier c:ir — no woman's lie:irt ever beat 
with more kind — more generous — more devoted sentiments, than her own. 
Possessed of a viviil iinairinalion, which the geiier.-ii ipi euide of her demean- 
or in a gfeal. degree di.s.iwned. she Inid already sketched within her 
glowing mind her own l/eau ideal, wiiose im.-ige wa- a talisman to deaden 
4ier heart against the inlliieiice of tiicse soulles- realities. 
" With such .sentiments as these bad Maria Ueywood cheerfully consented 



THE FALL OK CUlCAGf). 69 

to accompany her parents to tliat secluded spot, from which there was little 
probability of a speedy return ; but solitude, so far from weakening the 
strong impressions that had entwined themselves around her heart, from the 
moment of her emancipation from childlinod, only served to invest them 
with new power. The more her feelings repined— the more expanded her 
intellect — the stronger became the sense of absence of one who could enter 
into, and in some degree, give a direction to all hor thoughts and emotions 
— sharing with her the rich fruit that springs from the consciousness of 
kindred associations of mind. But this was the secret of her own heart — 
of the heart of one whose personal attractions were well suited to the rich 
and overflowing character of her soul, and who had now attained that age 
which gives eloquent expression to every movement of the ripely moulded 
tbrm. 

Above the middle size, the figure of Marin Heywood was at once grace- 
fully and nobly formed. Her face, of a chiselled oval, was of a delicate olive 
lint, which well harmoniited with eyes of a lustrous hazel, and hair of glossy 
raven bl.ick. A small mouth, bordered liy lips of coral fulness, disclosed, 
when s.'ie smiled, teeth white and even; while a forehead, high for her sex, 
coiiibined with a nose, somewhat more aquiline than Grecian, to give dignity 
to a countenance that might, otherwise, have exhibited a character of 
volui)tuous beauty. Yet, although her features, when lighted up by vivacity 
or emotion, were radiant with intelligence; their expression when in repose 
w a^ of a pensive cast, that, contrasted with her general appearance, gave to it 
a charm, addressed at once to sense and sentiment, of winch it is impossible, 
by ik'scription, to give an adequate idea. A dimpled cheek, an arm, hand 
and toot, that might have served the statuary as a model, completed a person 
which, without exaggeration, might, be deemed almost, if not wholly fault- 
less. 

The habits of Mr. Heywood were of that peculiar nature — his desire of 
isolation from every thing that could be called society was so obvious, that 
lor the first year of the residence of the family at Chicago, scarcely any 
intercourse had been maintained between the inmates of the cottage and the 
oiiicers' wives ; and it was only on l4ie occasion of the commanding officer 
giving a party, to celebrate the anniversary of American Independence on 
the lollowing year, that the first approach to an acipiaintance had been 
made. It, had been deemed by him a matter of duty to invite all of the 
few American families that were settled in the neigliborhood, and of course 
the lley woods were of the number. On the same principle of convention- 
alism ilie invitation was accepted, and not slight w.as the surprise of the 
ladii s of the garrison, when ihey found in the secluded occupants of the 
cotta;;e to whom they had assigned a doubtful position in society, those to 
whom no effort of their own prejudice could refuse that correct estimate, 
wliieli (piiet dignity without ostentation, is ever certain to command. 

.\t tin: iinnonncement of the names of Mrs. and Miss Heywood, the some- 
what slaiely Mrs. Headley was disposed to receive with hauteur the inmates 
of the collage, but no sooner had Maria Heywood, accompanied by her 
gentle motlier, entered the apartment with the easy and composed air of one 
U) whom the drawing-room is familiar, tlian all her prejudices vanished, and 
witli a heart warming towards her, as tlfough she liad been the cherished 
sister ot her love, she arose, jires.sed her liaiid .att'ectionately and welcomed 
her to tlie Fort with iho sincerity of a generous and elevated nature, 
atixioiis to repair its own wrong. 

From that period, bo;h by the- wif-.' of the commandant, and by Mrs. 
Eliii-.h'y — ilie only two ladies in the garrison, Mari:i Heywood was as much 
liked and courted, as she luid previously been disregarded. To deny that the 
noble ^'iii did in some measure exult in this change, w<nild he to do wrong 
to th,' c.unmendable [)ride of a woman, who feels that the unjust prejudice 
V. hictli tjad ca-;t a false sh.adow over her recent life, has at last been removed, 
and that, the value, of which she was modestly conscious, began to be 
-•ippreciatoii. 

Il was at this iitirly that her acquaintance with the young Southerner had 



70 HARDSCRABBI.E ; OR, 

commenced, and it is needless to trace tlie graduid rise of an attacliment 
whicli similarity of tastes liad engendered. Natm-ally of an ardent disposi- 
tion, tlie youtli bad, as we liave remarked on a previous occasion, iiitlierto 
loved to indulge in the excitement of tlie wild sports of the forest and the 
prairie, as the only present means of giving freedom to that S|iirit of enter- 
prise, so usually wedded to the generous and unoccupied mind ; but, from 
the period of his acquaintance witii Maria Hey wood, a total change had come 
over his manner of life. The liunt — the chase — and the cup that so often 
succeeded, were now almost wholly abandoned, and his only delight now in 
excursions was to ride with her across tlie prairie, or to [lull her in his light 
skitf either along the shores of the Michigan, or through the various brandies 
of the river, contemplating the beautiful Heavens by moonlight, and indulging 
in speculations, which were not more the fruit of romantic temperament, 
than of the intensity of Love. He had, moreover, four dogs trained to draw 
her in a light sledge of his own device and construction, in winter. In these 
rambles she was usually accompanied either by Mrs. Headley, or by the wife 
of his friend and brother subaltern, and after the invigorating exercise of the 
day, his evenings, wlienever lie could absent himself from the Fort, were 
devoted within the cottage to books, music, and tlio far more endearing 
interchange of the resources of their gifted minds. In summer there were 
other employments of a domestic character, for in addition to their rides, 
walks, and excursions on the water, both found ample scope for the indul- 
gence of their partiality for flowers, in the taste for practical liorticiilture 
possessed by Ronayne, under whose care had grown the luxuriant beauty 
which every where jiervaded the little garden, and made it to the grateful 
girl a paradise in miniature. 

Thus had passed nearly two years, and insensibly, without a word of love 
having been breathed, each felt all the security whicli a consciousness of 
being beloved alone could yield, and that assurance imparted to their 
manner and address when alone, a confiding air, the iimre endearing from 
the silence of their lips. But although no word uttered by themselves 
tiroclaimed the existence of the secret and holy comiiact, not only were they 
fully sensible of it themselves, but it was obvious to all — even to the least 
observant of the garrison, and many were there, botli among the soldiers 
and their wives — by all of whom the young ensign was liked for his open- 
ness and manliness of character — who expressed a fervent hope that the 
beautiful and amiable Miss Heywood would soon become the bride of tlieir 
favorite ofiicer. This it was, which had led the men of the fishing-party to 
express in their way, their sorrow for the young lady, when she sliuuld hear 
of the events at the farm-liouse, even while passing their rude encomiums 
on the sweetness of disposition of her, whom they already regarded as the 
wife of their young ofiicer. 

It was nearly noon, and Lieutenant Elmsley had not yet made his appear- 
ance witli the promised report. Maria Heywood had, after passing an hour 
with her mother, returned to the breakfast-room, which it will be recollected 
opened immediately upon the barrack-square. Her friend being engaged 
with her domestic aft'airs, which every lady was :it that period in a measure 
compelled to superintend, she had thrown herself (still in her morning 
dishabille) on a couch with a book in her hand, but with a mind wholly 
distracted from the suliject of its pages. After continuing some time thus, 
a prey to nervous anxiety, as mucli the result of Elmsley's long absence as 
of her former fears, the sound of the fifes and drums fell startlingly, she 
knew noi wheretbre, upon her ear and drew her to the door. The men 
were falling in, and in the course of a few minutes the little line was formed 
a few yards to her left, with its flanks resting on either range of building, 
so that the mess-room door, then open, was distinctly visible in front. At 
the same moment. Captain Headley and the lieutenant, followeil by Corporal 
Nixon and the other men of the fishing-party — Gieeii only excepted — passed 
out of tlie orderly room on her right, moved across, and took up their posi- 
tion in front of the parade. 

"God bless me, Maria, wliat is that, or is it his ghost!" suddenly and 



rHF. FALL OF CHICAGO. 71 

and unguardedly exclaimed Mrs. Ehiislcy, who bad tliat iiioinmt joined lier 
friend — placing lier arm at the same time round her vvaist. 

" What do ydu mean, Mar " but before Maria Heywood could complete 

her sentence, all power of speech was taken from her in the emotion with 
which slie regarded wliat, after a momentary glance, met her view. 

It was her lover, fully equipped fur parade, and walking towards the men 
with a calm and deliberate step, whicli seemed to evince total unconscious- 
ness that any ihinj,' unusual had hajipened. 

"Here is a chair, my luve — yuu really tremble as if the man was a 
ghost. Now tlieii, we shall have a scene between him and our amiable 
commandant." 

" God forbid !" tremulously answered the almost, bewildered girl ; " I am 
the cause of all." 

'• Yuu ! Stufl", Maria. What ncm.sense you talk, for a sensible girl. How 
should yon be tiie cause? but, [lositively, Ronayue can uevor liave been away 
from the Fort." 

"Do you think so, Margaret?" 

" I am sure of it. Only look .at hiiiL lie is as spruce as if he had only 
just come out of a band-box. But liush, not a word. Tliere, that's a dear. 
Lean your head against my sli 'ulder. Don Bombastes speaks!" 

"No sign of Mr. Ronayne yet?" demanded Captain Ileadley, his back 
turned to the slowly advancing officer, whose proximity not one of tlie 
wen seemed inclined t« announce, possibly because they feared rebuke tor 
insubordination. Mr. Elmsley," lie pursued to that officer, who, acting on a 
siguificaut half-glance from his friend, was silent also us to his a])proach. 
" Let a furiual report of his absence witliout leave, be made to me immedi- 
ately after the parade lias been dismissed." 

" Nay, sir," said the ensign, in his ordinary voice and close in the ear of 
the speaker, " not as having been absent from duty, I trust. 1 am not aware 
that I have ever missed a guard or a parade yet, without your leave." 

At the first sound of his voice, the surprised command.ant had turned 
quickly ronnd, and there encountered tlie usual deferential salute of his 
subordinate. 

" But, Mr. Ronayne, what means this? Where, sir, have you been? and, 
if not absent, uhy tlms late ? Do you know that the men liave already 
been paraded, and that when required for your guard, you were not to be 
found?" 

" The fatigues of the night, Oaptain Headley," returned the young officer, 
wilh some hesitation of manner; " the incessant watching — surely tliere — " 

"I knew he had not been out of the Fort. Courage, Maria 1" was 
audible to the men wlio were nearest to the speaker, from Elmsley's door- 
way. 

"I know what you wotdd urge, Mr. Ronayne," remarked the captain; 
"you would offer this in plea lor your late ap[iearance. I make all due 
allowance in the matter ; but, let me tell you, sir, that an officer who 
thorouglily understands bis duty, and consults the interests of the service, 
would make light of these matters, in cases of strong emergency." 

"Poor Ronayne !" sighed Maria, to her friend. "This is terrible to his 
proud spirit. In presence of the whole of the men, too!" 

" I told you, my dear, there would be a row, but never fear— Elmsley is 
there. See, he is looking significantly at us, as if to call our attention to 
what is p.ts^ing." 

The lieutenant had been no less astonishcil t!;an the captain, at tiie unex- 
pected aiipearance of Ronayne — even more so, indeed — because he had 
observed, without, however, remarking on it, the cool and unhastened pace 
at which ho moved along the square, from the direction of the mess-room. 
"Now it is coming," he thought, and half-murmured to himself, as he saw 
the crimson gathering on his brow, during the last iiarsh address of his 
superior. 

" Captain Headley," said the young man, drawing himself up to his full 
height, and somewhat elevating his voice, for he liad remarked there were 



72 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

other and dearer eyes upon bim, tliau those immediately around. ^'•Iwillnot 
be spoken to in this manner, before tlie men. If yoL think I have been 
guilty of a breach of duty or of discipline, I am prepared to meet your 
charges before tlie proper tribunal, but you shall not talie the liberty of thus 
addressing me in public parade. My sword, sir," and lie unbuckled it, and 
offered the handle, " is at your disposal, but I deny your further right."' 

" No, no, uo!" shouted several men from the ranks. 

"No, uo, no!" repeated almost every man of the flshing-party, in even 
more energetic tones, while the commanding ofScer was glancing his eye 
keenly and rapidly along the little line, to detect those who had set the 
example of insubordination. 

" Ugh ! wah ! good soger !" came from one of a small party of Indians in 
the rear, as the disconcerted captain turned, frowningly, from the men in 
front to those who had followed him from the orderly room, and now stood 
grouped on the inner llank. 

" What is the meaning of all this?" he cried, in a loud and angry voice. 
" Am I braved in my own command, and by my own men ? Mr. Elmslej, 
who are these Indians, and how came they in ?" 

"They are a part of the encampment without, tir. There was no order 
given against their admission this morning, besides it is Winnebeg, and you 
have said that the gates of the Fort was to be open to him at all hours." 

"Ah! Winnebeg, my friend, how do you do. I did not kuow it was you 
or your people. You kuow you are always welcome." 

"How do, gubbernor," answered the cliief, coming round from the rear of 
the line, and taking the proffered hand — " 'Spose not very angry now — him 
good warrior — him good soger," and he pointed to the young subaltern. 

" Ensign Ronayne is, no doubt, very sensible to your good opinion," 
remarked the captain, with evident pique ; " but, Winnebeg, as I am .-ure 
you never allow a white man to interfere with you, when you find fault with 
your young chiefs, you must let me do the same." 

" What find him fault lor ?" asked the chief, with some surprise ; " brave 
like a devil!" 

"Captain Headley," interposed the ensign, with some impatience, "am I 
to surrender my sword, or resume my duty ?" 

But the captain either could not, or would not give a direct answer. 

" Can you give lue a good reason, Mr. Ronayne, why I should not receive 
your sword ? Do you deuy that you have beeu guilty of neglect of 
duty ?" 

" In what?" was the brief demand. 

" In being absent from the Fort, without leave, sir." 

" Indeed ! To substantiate that, you must bring proofs, Captain Headley. 
Who," and he looked around him, as if challenging his accuser, " pretends to 
have seen me beyoud these defences ?" 

The commandant was for some moments at a loss, for he had not antici- 
pated this difficulty. At length he resumed. " Was it not to be absent 
without leave, that, when the guard was all ready to be marched off", you 
were not to be found 2" 

"Had the guard been marched off, or the parade even formed, I should of 
coarse, have come justly under your censure. Captain llea<lley ; but it was 
not so — you ordered the parade and guard-mounting for a later hour. I am 
liere at that hour." 

" Hem !" returned the commandant, who was iu some degree obliged to 
admit the jn^tlc.i of the remark ; " you defend yourself more in the spirit 
of a lawyer, than of a soldier, Mr. Ron.ayiie, but all this difficulty is soon t?et 
at rest. I require but your simple denial that you have been absent from 
the Fort, within the last twenty-four hours. That given, I shall be satisfied." 

" And that, sir," was the firm reply of the youth, " I am not disposed to 
give. I am not nmch versed in military prudence. Captain Headley," he 
pursued, after a few moments' pause, and in a tone of slight irony, which that 
officer did not seem to perceive, "but at least sufficient to induce me to 
leserve what I have to say hir my defence. You have charged me, sir, with 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. " 7S 

having been absent from the Fort without leave ; .uij it U for j-nn to prove 
that, fact before a competent autlmrity." 

"March oti' ydur guard, Mr. Ronayne," was the abrupt rejoinder of the 
fAiminandant, for lie lijied not the continuation of a scene in which the 
advantage seemed not to rest with him, but witli the very party whom ha 
had sought to cha.sten ; "Mr. Elmsley di.smiss the parade. I had intended 
promoting on the spot, Corporal Nixon and private CnUins for their conduct 
yesterday, but tlie gross insubordination I have just seen, has caused me to 
change my mind. Neitlier .shall have the rauk intended, until the guilty 
parties are named. I give until the hour of parade to-morrow for their 
production, and it, by that time, their names are not laid before me, no such 
j)romntion sliall take place whde I command the garrison. Dismiss the men, 
sir. Here, Winnebeg, my good fellow, you have come at a good moment. 
I have dispatches to send to Detroit this very evening, and I know no one 1 
can trust so well as yourself" 

" Good," was the answer, " Winnebeg always ready to do him order — no 
angry more, gubbernor, with young chief," pointing to the ensign, as he 
moved off with his small guard. "Dam good soger — you see dis?" and 
he touched his soaljiing-knife with his left hand, and looked very sigiiifl- 
cantly. 

" No, Winnebeg, not angry any more," was the reply ; " but how do you 
know him to be good soger ? What has your scalpiiig-knife to do with it?" 

" Winnebeg know all," said the chief gravely, as lie laid his heavy hand 
upon the shoulder of the commandant, "but can't tell. Young chief say 
no, and Winnebeg love young chief" 

Tliia remark forciblj' struck Captain Headley, and brought back to bis 
mind, certain recollections. He, Jiowever, asked no further question, but 
pointed, as they moved in the direction of his own apartments, towards the 
sun, showing by his gesture that it was not too early to take the mid-day 
drain. 

" Where the devil have yon been, man, and with what confounded impu- 
dence you got through the scrape," was remarked at a distant part of the 
same ground, and at the same moment with the conversation just given. 

" How is Maria?" eagerly asked Rcmayne. " Wiien shall I see her?" 

" Well enough to hear all that passed between you and Military Prudence," 
returned his friend ; " but that is no answer to my question." 

" There was nothing like braving it," answered the other evasively ; " but 
I say, Elmsley, I am devilish hungry, that breakfast you invited me to last 
night is over long ago, of course." This last sentence was uttered in a mock 
piteous tone. 

" Just what I was going to speak about, my dear boy. We have had 
number one, but before halt' an hour, we shall be seated at number two. 
When your sergeant has relieved his sentries, come over and you will find a 
piping hot breakfist." 

" Will it be quite consistent with military [irudence to leave my guard 30 
soon, after the lecture I have had ?" remarked the ensign, with a smile — 
"but, ah ! I had nearly forgotten. Elmsley, I must say a few words to yoa 
before I go in, and a better opportunity cannot be afforded than while we 
are walking from this to your place. Just go then, and order the breakfast 
as you pro])Ose, and return here. I shall have completed the arrangements 
of the guard by that time, and all th.at I have to .ask of you, cm be answered 
as wo go along." 

" I hope it is no great secret you have to imp.art," returned the lieutenant, 
"for I am a sad hand at the mysterious, and shall be sure to tell my wife, if 
I do not tell Maria." 

" Not you — you will tell neither, but au rewir." 



74 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 



CHAPTEPw X. 



At the moment when Ensign Konayne removed his sword, with the 
intention of handing it to his commanding officer, in anticipation of the 
arrest which he expected, Maria Heywood. little couvei-t^ant with tliose 
military formalities, and apprehending from the previous high lone of her 
lover, that something fearful was about to occnr, liad not absolutely tainted, 
but become so agitated, that Mrs. Elmsley was induced to take her back to 
the sofa, on which she had previously been reclining. As slie was leaving 
her chair, Mrs. Headley, whose attention had als(j been arrested by the loud 
and angry voice of her husband, came from her own door and joined 
the little group, anxiously inquiring the cause of the disturbance without. 

In a few brief sentences, and as correctly as she was able, Mrs. Elmsley 
explained to her the circumstances, and although her attentive auditor offered 
no very pointed remark, it was evident from her manner that she deeply 
deplored that strict military punctilio, which had led the husband whom ^he 
both loved and esteemed, to place himself in a false position with his own 
force — for that it was a false position in some degree, to provoke insubordi- 
nation, and yet be without the power to punish it, she had too much good 
sense not to perceive. She felt the more annoyed, because she had on more 
than one occasion, observed that there was not that unanimity between her 
husband and Lieutenant Elmsley, which she conceived ought to exist between 
parties so circumstanced — a commander of a remote post, and his second in 
couimand, on whose mutual good understanding, not only the personal 
security of all might depend, but the existence of those social relations, 
without which, their isolated position involved all the unpleasantness of a 
voluntary banishment. This liad ever been to her a source of regret, and 
she had on several (jccasions, although in the most delicate and unobtrusive 
manner, hinted at the fact ; but the man who doated upon her, and to 
whom, in all other respects, her desire was law, evinced so nmch inflexibility 
in all that appertained to military etiquette, that she had never ventured to 
carry her allusions beyond the light commentary induced by casual reference 
to the subject. 

If then she lamented that unfortunate coolness, if not absolute estrangement, 
which existed between Lieutenant Elmsley and her husband, how much more 
acutely did she feel the difBoulty of the position now, when the only other 
responsible officer of the garrison — and that a young man of high feeling 
and accomplishment, whom she had ever liked and admired — was fast being 
led into the same antagonism. Nay, wliat rendered the matter more painful 
to her, was the fact of the latter being the lover, or perhaps the affianced 
of a girl, whom she regarded with a fervor not often felt by one woman for 
another, and for whose interests she could have made every sacrifice, not 
affecting those of her husband. 

Such were the women who were now seated on the ottoman, engaged 
more in their own reflections, than in conversation, when Lieutenant 
Elmsley entered tlie room, announcing that the truant would shortly be in 
for breakfast, which, he requested, might be instantly prepared in the usual 
manner, only adding thereto a oou|ile of bottles of claret. 

" Ah ! pardon me, Mrs. Headley," he added, somewhat stiffly, as his wife 
left the room to issue the necessary orders, "' I did not see you, or I should 
have been rather more ceremonious in my domestic communications." 

Mrs. Headley slightly colored. She was sensible that pique towards her 
husband, and a belief that she wholly shared his sentiments, had induced 
this rather sarcastic speech. 

" By no means, Mr. Elmsley. I trust you will not put me down as a 
stranger, whatever your disposition to others." 

There was a ,'^igniticance in the manner in which this was said, that deeply 
touched the lieutenant, aud his tone immediately changed. 

" Then, I take you at your xv-^^-J," he said. " It is a long time since I 



THE FALL OF CH1CA(;0. 75 

liave had the pleasure o( seeing you liere, and ynu must positively join our 
second breal<t'ast. 1 know Oaptuin Headley is engaged with Winnebeg, 
vvlioin lie purposes sending off this evening witli despatclie.s, so that you will 
not bo missed tor at ieiist an hour. There, look at Miss Hey wood's imploring 
look — slie pleads witli her eyes in my tavor, ahhougli there is no chance, it 
appears, of getting a/ word fnim her lips." 

*' Nay," remarked the oilier, wlio had raUied from her late despondency, 
on liearing the object of the breakfast; "'you are very unreasonable, Mr. 
Ehnsley. You do uot deserve tliat I should speak to you to-day, and 1 am 
not quite sure that I sliall." 

"And pray, fair ladv, wliy not? Wliercin have I had the misfortune to 
offend V 

''Ah! do you lorgel? You promised to bring me a certain report of 
certain occurrences, and yet instead of that, not a word have you con- 
descended to address to me until this moment." 

" I plead guilty," he answered deiirecatingly, " but pray for a suspension 
of sentence, until tlie return of one through whose influence I hope to obtain 
your pardon ! I go now," he whispered, " to lead liiin to your feet." 

" Well, what is the great question you have to put to me ?" said the 
lieutenant to his friend, wlioin he had rejoined, and witli whom he now 
returned slowly towar.is the house — "one involving a case of life and death 
it miglit be ima-.Mrd, from the long face you put on vvlieu alluding to the 
matter." 

"Nay, not exactly that, but still involving a good deal. Tell me fi'ankly, 
Elmsley, has Miss iieywood heard any further account of the events at the 
farm-house ?" 

" She has heard the report brought in by Nixon and the rest of the tishiug- 
party." 

" And what was that, I pray you ?" eagerly returned the ensign. 

" Tliat Mr. Heywood had been carried oil' by the Indians." 

"From whom did she hear it?" 

"It was I who told her, on the strength of what the corporal reported, 
not only to myself, but to Captain lleadley." 

"You are a considerate fellow, Elmsley," said his friend, warmly pressing 
his hand. " I thank you for that, and now that the great question, as you 
term it, is answered, 1 am quite ready for the promised breakfast. Did these 
fellows bring home any fish ? I have a great fancy for fish this morning." 

" No ; they brought home dead men," and the lieutenant looked search- 
ingly into tlie face of his companion, dwelhiig on every word, moreover, as 
if lie would convey tliat he (llonaynej, knew perfectly well what freight 
the boat liad brought to the Fort. 

Further remark was prevented by their arrival at their destination — the 
front-door being open, and revealing the little party within. The first upon 
whom the young officer's eye fell, was Mrs. lleadley, of whose intended 
presence, his frieud had not thought of apprising him. Still smarting under 
a keen sense of the severity of reproof of his commanding officer, and 
falling into the common error of involving the wife in the unamiability of 
the husband, Ronayne would have retired, even at the risk of losing his 
breakfast, and, what was of far more moment to him, of delaying hia 
meeting with her to whom his every tliought was devoted. But when Mrs. 
lleadley, who had remarked tlie movement, came forward to the door, and 
gave him her hand witli all the warmth and candor of her noble naiure, the 
pique vanished' from his mind, and in un instant, he, like Elmsley, evinced 
that devotion and regard for her, which her fascinating manner could not 
fail to inspire. 

The sense of constraint being tluis banislied by the only one whose 
presence had occasioned it, tlie party, afier a few minutes low conversation 
between the lovers, sat down gaily to a meal — lialf-breakfast, half-luncheon, 
at which tlie most conspicuous actor was the lately reprimanded ensign. 

" Keally, Mr. iionayne, you must have met wiih a perfect chapter of 
adventures during your absence last night. You have devoui-cd the last four 



76 nAIlDSCKABBLE ; OR, 

fresh eggs, my cook savs, there were in the house — three limbs of a prairie 
fowl, and nearly the half of a young bear liam. Do, pray, tell us where yoo 
have been to gain such an appetite ? Indeed you must — I am dying to 
know." 

" My dear Mrs. Elmsley," he replied, coloring, " where should I have been 
but in the Fort?" 

" True I where should you have been, indeed ; but this is not the point, 
my hungry gentleman. Where were you? If I was, I hnow who" she 
added, significantly, "I should have ujy suspicious, unless, indeed, you Ijave 
already confessed within the few minutes you have been in the room." 

" Nay, do not imagine I have so mucli influence over the truant, as to 
compel him to the confessional," said Maria Heywood. " I assure yon I am 
quite as much in the dark as any one present." 

" Come, Mr. Roiiayne, recount your adventures," added Mrs. Ileadley. 
" Recollect you are not on parade now, or exactly before the sternest Court 
of Inquiry in the world, and should therefore, entertain no dread of punish- 
ment on your self-conviction." 

" Thus urged and encouraged," said the ensign, during one of the short 
pauses of his knife and fork, which, in truth, he had handled as much to 
study what he should say, as to sati^fy his hunger ; " who could resist such 
pleading, were there really any thing to communicate ; but I am quite at a 
loss to conceive why so general an opinion seems to prevail that I have been 
out of the Fort, and in quest of adventure. Why not rather ascribe my 
tardiness at parade to some less flattering cause — a head-ache — fatigue from 
night- watching — indolence, or even a little entfetement, arising from tlie 
denial of a very imprudent request I made to Captain Ileadley last evening, 
to allow me the command of a detachment fur a particular purpose. Pardon 
me, I have made quite a speech, but indeed 3'ou compel me." 

" Let us drown this inquisition in a bunqjer of claret," interposed Elmsk-y, 
coming to the assistance of his friend, whose motive for thus parrying 
inquiry into his conduct, he thought he could divine. " I say, my dear 
fellow, you may wish yourself a head-ache — fatigue — indolence, or even a 
little entetement every morning of your life, if it is to be cured in this 
manner. This is some of the most splendid Lafitte that ever found its way 
into these western wilds. Look well at it. It is of the clearest, the purest 
blood of the grape — taste it again. A bottle of it will do you no harm if 
you had twenty guards in charge." 

As lie had desired and expected, the introduction of his remarks on the 
wine proved not only a means of changing the conversation, but of causing 
the ladies to withdraw from the table, round which they had been sitting, 
rather to keep the young officer company, than to participate in the repast 
themselves. Mrs. Ileadley was the first to move. 

" Give me your arm, and see me home," she said carelessly, to Ronayne, 
who now having finished his breakfiist, had also risen. " Do not be jealous, 
my dear Miss Heywood, but you will later know, if you do not know 
already, that the wife of the commanding officer always appropriates to 
herself, the handsomest unmarried young officer of tlie regiment." 

Botli Ronayne and his betrothed were too quick of appreliension not to 
perceive, under this light gaiety, a deep iuterest, and a desire to convey to 
them both, that, if unhappily, tliere did not exist a cordial understanding 
between her hu^band and the former, in matters purely military, and in 
relation to subjects which should have no influence over private life, she was 
by no means, a party to the disurfion. 

" Not very difficult to choose between the handsomest and the cleverest 
of the unmarried ofltcers of the garrison of Chicago," replied Maria Heywood 
with an ettbrt at cheerfulness ; '• therefore, Mr. Itona} ne, I advise you not 
to be too nmch elated by Mrs. Headley's compliment. After that caution, I 
think you may be trusted with her." 

" What a noble creature, and what a pity she has so cold and pompous a 
husband," remarked Lieutenant Elmsley, as Mrs. Headley dis.ippeared from 
the door-way. '' I never kne\¥ her so well as ttiis morning, jmd upon m^ 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 11 

word, Margaret, were both he and you out of the way, I should be greatly 
tempted to fall in luve with her." 

"You would act wi.sely if you did, George; I have always thought most 
highly of her. She is, it is true, a little reserved ia manner, but that I an 
sure comes wholly from a certain restraint, imposed upon her by her 
husband's formality of chanicter. I say I am sure of this, for there have 
been occasions when I liave seen iier exhibit a w.irmth of address, as different 
from her general demeanor, as light is from sh;idi)\v." 

" Perhaps Headley has sysieiiiatically drilled her into the particular 
bearing that ought to be assumed by the wife uf the commandant of a 
garrison." 

" Nay, George I tliat is not generous, but I know yon are not serious in 
what you say. You judge Mrs. Jieadley better, and that she is not a woman 
to be so drilled. She lias too much good sense, despite all her partiality for 
her husljaud, to allow herself to be improperly influenced, wliero her judg- 
ment condemns; and although, as his wife, she must necessarily act in 
concert with him, it by no means follows that she approves unreservedly, all 
that he does." 

" You are a dear, noble creature yourself!" exclaimed the gratified Elmsley, 
as lie fondly embraced hU wife. " There is nothing I love so much as to see 
one woman warm in the defence of another — one so seldom meets with that 
sort of thing. What, Maria, tears?" 

" Yes — tears of pleasure!" she answered earnestly, ns she held her hand- 
kerchief to her eyes — " tears of joy to see so much generosity of feeling 
among tliose whom I have so much reason to esteem and admire. Yoir are 
right," she pursued, addressing Mrs. Elmsley, " she is indeed a noble woman. 
Perhaps I may justly be accused of a little partiality, for I never can forget 
the frank and cordial proffers of friend^hip with which she received me on 
the fir^t night of my apiiearance here." 

"Ha! Von Vottenberg to the rescue!" exclaimed Elmsley, with sudden 
animation, as the stout tigure of the former shaded the door-way. " "Well, 
doctor, have you passed away in the evaporation produced by fright, 
the violent head-ache you were suffering from this morning? If not, try 
that claret. It is capital stuff, and a tumbler of it will make up for the 
breakfast you have lost." 

" Faith, and there is no breakfast lost that I can perceive," chuckled the 
doctor, seating himself unceremoniously at the table, and commencing upon 
the remains of the bear ham, and prairie hen." 

" I fear the tea and coffee are cold," said Mrs. Ehnsloy ; " let me get some 
hot for you ?" 

" By no means, my dear Mrs. Elmsley, I could not think of such slops 
with generous claret at my elbow. Nay, do not look offended. Your tea 
and coffee are always of the best, but they do not just now, suit my taste. 
Miss Hey wood, how do you do this morning? How is your gentle, mother? 
I have called expressly to see lier. Elmsley, where is that runaway, Ron- 
ayne ?" 

And where indeed was he ? They had not walked more than three or 
four paces, when Mrs. Headley, after some little hesitation, addressed him 
thus : — 

" Mr. Ronayne, notwithstanding your evident desire to conceal the fact, I 
can plainly see that you were not within the Fort last niglit. I can fully 
comprehend that your motive for absenting yourself, has been pr.aisew<)rihiy 
but you must also admit that the reproof you mot with this niorning, was 
not altogether undeserved. Pray do not start or look grave, for, believe me, 
I am speaking to you only as a friend — indeed it was to have the opportunity 
of convincing you that I am sucli, that I asked you to escort me." 

"Really, Mrs. Headley," interrupted the young officer, litile divining to 
what all this was to tend, and feeling not altogether at liis ease, from the 
abruptness with which the subject liad been introduced, " 1 feel as I ouglit, 
the interest you profess to take in me, but how is that connected either with 
my asserted absence, or the reproof it entailed ?" 



78 HARnSCRABBLE ; OR, 

" It is 80 far connected with it, tliat I wish to point ont the means by 
which any unpleasant result may bo avoided 1" 

" Unpleasant result ! Mrs. Headley ?" 

" Yes, unpleasant result, for I have too good an opinion of you not to 
believe that any thing tending to destroy the harmony of our very limited 
society, would lie considered such by yon." 

" I am all attention. Madam. Pray, proceed." 

" The pithiness of your manner does not atibrd me much encouragement, 
yet I will not be diverted from my purpose, even by that. You have had 
the Commandant's lecture," she continued, with an attempt at pleasantry, 
"and now you must prepare yourself for (pardon the coinage of the term) 
that of the Oommandantess." 

" The plot thickens," said the ensign, somewhat sharply — " both tha 
husband and the wife. Jupiter Tonans and .Juno the Superb in judgment 
upon poor me in succession. Ah ! that is too bad. But seriously, Mrs. 
Headley, I shall receive with all due humility, whatever castigation you may 
choose to inflict." 

" No castigation I assure you, Ronayne, but wholesome advice from one, 
who, recollect, is nearly old enough to be your mother. However, you 
shall hear and then decide for yourself." 

" Although," she pursued, after a short pause, " we women are supposed 
to know nothing of those matters, it would be difficult, in a small place hke 
this, to be ignorant of what is going on. Hence it is that I liave long since 
remarked, with pain and sorrow, the little animosity which exists between 
Headley and yourself — (I will not introduce Mr. Elmsley's name, because 
what I have to say has no immediate reference to liim), and the almost; 
daily widening breach. Now, Ronayne, I would appeal to your reason. 
Place yom-self for a moment in my husband's position. Consider his years, 
nearly double your own — his great responsibility and the peculiar school of 
discipline in which he has been brought up. Place yourself, I repeat, in his 
position, and decide what would be your sentiments if, in the conscientious 
discharge of your duty, you thought yourself thwarted by those very men 
— much your juniors both in years and military experience — on whoso 
co-operation you had every fair reason to rely." 

" You have, ray dear Mrs. Headley, ])ut the case forcibly yet simply," 
returned the ensign, who had listened with marked deference to the whole 
of her remonstrance. " In such a case I should feel no slight annoyance, 
but why imagine that I have sought to thwart Captain Headley ?" 

" Was it not apparently to thwart him^bear in mind I speak to you 
dispassionately and as a friend— to refuse in the presence of the whole 
garrison this morning to account for your absence of last night, which might 
have been easily explained, had you been so disposed ?" 

" But, my dear Mrs. Headley, why is it persisted in, that I was absent — 
and even if such were the case, might not I have had a good reason for 
rel'using to commit myself by the avowal." 

" Admiiting this, could you have maintained your position without, in a 
measure, setting his authority at defiance — thus encouraging the men to do 
the same. "Was this right, I ask ? Was this officer-like ?" 

" Well, no, perhaps not. I blush not to make the admission to you, for 
indeed, there is no resisting so bewitching a master in petticoats. Yet, wliat 
would you have me do 3" 

" Ah, now, I begin to entertain some hope of you," she rephed, in a gayer 
tone, placing her hand at the same time familiarly on his shoulder and 
looking approvingly in his face. " Ronayne, you are engaged — perhaps will 
shortly become the husband of the noble girl, whom I love even as though 
she were my own daughter — yes," she repeated energetically, as she felt his 
grateful pressure of her hand, " even as though she were my own daughter 
—nay, you know I like yourself for your open, although rather too impetuous 
character. Do you then think that feeling this, it can be any other than a 
source of deep pain and vexation to me to see those in whom I feel so much 
interest, alienated from each other — in some degree even mutually hating 
and hated V 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 19 

" Yet, what would yon have rae to do, my dear Mm. Headley ? Some 
concession I suppose, must be made. Any thing in ho.or and in reason will 
I do for your sake," returned the young officer, deeply touched by her 
manner and lang;u;ige. 

"This I wish you to do. Rouayne. Take tlio first favorable opportunity, 
either wliile on guard to-day, or when relieved to-inornvw, to see Ileadley 
privately, ami by such language as you well know how to use, remove the 
unfavorable impression you have left on his mind — depend upon it, although 
extremely cold and inHexible when apparently braved, my liusband has a 
warm and generous — aye, a noble heart, and will freely grant what is fraidily 
solicited. Bear in nutid, moreover, Ronayue, that it is no humiliation to 
admit error when conscious of liaving coinmitteil it ; and if this be so in the 
social relations of Ufe, how much less derogatory is it in a military sense." 

•■ Say no more, dearest Mrs. Headley, since it is your wisli, I will go, no 
matter what the reception 1 encounter; and any further rebuke 1 may meet 
with, I will cheerfully endure for your sake." 

" Now then, Rouayne, you are once more yourself, the generous, higb- 
nnnded boy, in whom I delighted, even as a mother woidd delight in lier 
son, when you first arrived liere about three years ago. Yet, recollect that 
not only /shall be gratitied and benefitted by this, but you and yours. Let 
but this unhappy discord terminate, and we shall then be what soldiers and 
those connected witli them, ouglit ever to be — one undivided family. And 
now, for the present, farewell." 

" ijtod bless you !" fervently exclaimed the ensign, as he took his leave of 
the graceful and noble wife of the commanding officer, with emotions that 
fully testified the effect produced upon him by her generous confidence and 
candor. 

From the frequent reference made by Mrs. Headley to her own riper years, 
one might have been induced to consider her rather in the decline of life ; 
but suoli was not the cast-. Her splendid and matronly figure might indeed 
have impressed the superficial observer with the belief tliat she had numbered 
more than forty summers, but tlie uuoliaiued and luxuriant hair — the widte, 
even and perfect teeth — the rich, full lip, and unwriukled brow, and smooth 
and brilliant cheek, would not have pernutted the woman most jealous of 
her charms, conld such have been found, to pronounce her more than six- 
and-thirty, whiol was, indeed, her age. It was a source of gratification to 
her to consider and represent herself as older than she really was ; and if 
she had any peculiarity — a weakness it could not be called — it was that of 
loving to look upon those younger persons who claimed a place in her 
friendship and esteem, as though she actually stood in the maternal relation 
to them. This may have, in some degree, arisen from the fact of her having 
ever been childless herself. 

As Ronayne approached Elmsley's house on 'his return, a remarkably 
handsome and nobledooking Indian — quite a youtli — was leaning against the 
frame of the door, and according to the simple habit of his race, indulging 
his curiosity by looking at, and admiring all that he beheld within. Elmsley 
himself had gone out, but Von Votteaberg, still seated at the breakfast-t.able, 
was <liscussing, with its remains, the now nearly finished claret, while -Mrs. 
Elmsley and Maria Heywood were seated on the sofa opposite to the door, 
passing their whispered remarks on the Indian, whoso softened dark glances 
occasionally fell with intense admiration on the former, when he fancied the 
act unseen, but as instantly were withdrawn, when he perceived that it was 
observed. 

Mrs. Elmsley was endeavoring to dissipate the dejection of her friend by 
rallying her, as the young officer came to the door, on the evidently new 
conquest she h.ad made. The Indian turned to look at the intruder U|ion his 
pleasant musings, when a " wah !" ex])ressive of deep satisfaction c-.scaped 
him, and at the same moment, Ronayne grasped, and cordially shook his 
hand. 

"Ua! there is his formidable rival, and seemingly Ids friend," whispered 
Mrs. Elmsley, in the ear of Maria — " handsome fellows, both of them, so 



80 HABDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

inuoh so, tliat were I single, like yon, I slioiild have aome difficulty in 
choosing between them." 

As she uttered these words, a sharp and tinaccoimtable pang, sudden and 
fieetiiig as electricity, shot througli rJie (rame of lier friend. The blood 
suddenly receded from her cheek, and then rapidly retni-ning, suffused it with 
a burning heat. 

" What is the matter, my love ? Are you ill, yon looked so pale jnst now ?" 
tendtrly inquired Mrs. Elnisley. 

•' I cannot account for what I experienced. It was' a feeling different 
froin any I had ever known before — a strange, wild, and inexplicable dread 
of I know not what. But it has passed away. Take no notice of it, dear, 
before Ronayne." 

'•Mrs. Eluisley," said the latter, almost using force to induce the modest- 
looking young Indian to enter the room, " will you allow me first to intro- 
duce my friend Waunangee to you, and then to give him a glass of claret? 
Forgive tlie liberty I take, but I confess a good deal of obligation to him, 
and would fain do the civil in return." 

■' Indeed ! what a set speech for a glass of wine. Give it to him by all 
means, if it is only for his beautifnl eyes — that is to say, if the doctor has 
left any— or stay, I will get another bottle." 

"By no means," returned the young officer, "this unconscionable man 
has just left about half a tumbler full, and I do not intend he shall have 
more. Waunangee," he pursued, after filling and presenting him with the 
glass, " that is the lady of the house," pointing to Mrs. Elmsley, " yon must 
drink to her health." 

" And dis you handsome squaw," remarked the Indian, a moment or two 
after having tossed off the wine, which quickly circulated ilirough his veins. 
" Dis you wife ?" he repeated, throwing his expressive eyes upon Miss 
Heywood, while a rich glow lighted up his dark, but finely formed features. 

" Hush 1" said Ronayne, making a sign to intimate that he was not to 
indulge in such observations. 

But, even the small quantity of wine he had taken was acting potently on 
the fast animating Indian. " Dis no you squaw — dis "Waunangee squaw," 
he said, with strong excitement of manner. " Waunangee, see him beautfal, 
"Waunangee got warm heart — love him very much!" 

" Tolerably ■ well for a modest youth!" exclaimed the laughing Mrs. 
Elnisley. " Who would have thought that-one with those soft black eyes, 
more fitted for a woman than a man, would hazard so glowing a speech, 
after an acquaintance of barely five minutes ?" 

" Who says Chicago doesn't abound in adventure?" sneered Von Votten- 
berg, as he arose and passed into the apartment of his patient. " I shall 
certainly write a book about this when I get back into the civiUzed world, 
and entitle it ' The Loves of the Handsome Waunangee, and the Beautiful 
American.' " 

'■• You had better write ' The Loves of the Fat You "Vottenberg, and his 
Mistress, Whisky Punch,' " remarked Ronayne, peevishly, for in spite of 
himself, he felt annoyed at an observation, which lie thought delicacy might 
have sjjared. " Come, Waunangee, my good friend, we must go." 

But the young Indian was not so easily led. " Waunangee have him first 
dis nice squaw," he said, with all that show of dogged obstinacy which so 
usually distinguishes his race, when under the influence of liquor, and bent 
upon the attainment of a particular object. 

" Hear me, Waunangee," replied the other, placing Ids hand upon his 
shoulder, and now, that Mrs. Elmsley only was present with his affianced, 
feehng less scruple in explaining to the young savage—" that is my squaw — 
my wife." 

" Why you no tell him so?" asked the youth, gravely, and with an air of 
reproach, while, at the same time, he fixed his soft and melancholy eyes 
upon Miss Heywood. " Waunangee love officer's squaw — but Waunangee 
good heart. Shake him hand, my friend," he continued, walking up to her, 
and tendering his own, while, singular as it seemed to all, a tear dimmed hia 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 81 

eye, and stole dowu his cheek. "'Spose no Waunaugce wife — jdu ^Y:lu• 
nangee's friend ?" 

The generous but trembhng girl, shook cordially the hand that lested in 
her own, and assured the youih, in a way easily intelligible to liini, that, as 
the friend of her husband, and she bluslied deeply, as the moment afterwards 
.she became sensible she had used a word, she CDuld not but feel to be prema- 
ture, siie Would always regard him with friendsiii]) and e.--teem. 

'■ Wliat a nice little scene we might get up out of this morning's adven- 
ture," said tlie ever gay Mrs. Elmsley, as Waumnigee, after having shaken 
iiauds witli lierself, departed with Konayne. " Really, my dear, lie is a tine 

looking, and certainly a warm-hearted fellow, tliat Wau — Wan what's 

his name, Maria?" 

" W'aunangee. I know not how it is, Margaret, or why I should attach 
so much importance to llie tlnug, but if ever tliose glimpses of the future, 
called presentiments, bad foundation in trutli, tiiat young Indian is destined 
to exercise some sort of iiiflucuce over my fate." 

" You do not mean tliat he is to supplant Konayue, 1 liope," returned her 
friend, trying to laugh her out of the serious mood, in wliich she seemed so 
much inclined lo indulge. 

'■ iiow can you .speak so, Margaret ? No, my presentiment is of a dilierent 
character. But it is very foolisli and silly to allow the feeling to weigh with 
me. 1 will Lry to tliiuk more rationally. Say nothing of tiiis, however, and 
least ot all to Kouayne." 

" Noi a Word, dearest. Good bye for the present. I m».-t look after the 
dinner. You know who dines witU us." 

A look expressive of the deep sense she entertained of the consideration 
of her friend, was the only commentary of Miss lleyvvood, as she passed 
into her mother's apartment. 



CHAPTEK XI. 

It was now the middle of May. A nioutli had elapsed since ihe events 
detailed iu the preceding chapters. The recollection of tlie outrage at 
Hey wood's farm, committed early iu April was fast dying away, save in the 
bosoms of those more immediately interested in the fate of its iiroprieior, 
and apprelicusions of a repetition of siuular atrocities had, in a great me:.^iire. 
Ceased. A better understaniiiug between the conuuan<ling otHcer and his 
subordinates — the result of a long private interview, wliicli Ensign lion.'une 
had had with the former, on tlie morning after liis promise to Mrs. ijeadiey, 
followed by an apology on parade that day, had arisen. Uorporal Ni.\oii vas 
now Sergeant jSfixon — UoUins liad succeeded to liim, and Le Noir and the 
boy — Oaihulic and Protesiant — had been buried in one grave. Kiihraim 
Giles tilled the otiice of factotum to Von Vottenberg, whose U)ve ot whisky 
puncn, was, if possible, on the increase. Winnebeg. tlie bearer of confi- 
dential despatches, annuuiiciug the hostile disposition and acts of oeriain of 
the Winnebagoes, had not returned, and Waunangee, who, recovered from 
the futnes of the claret, nad, iu an earnest manner, e.\pres^ed to lioiiiiyiie 
contrition for the liberi}' lie had taken with Mi.ss Ileywood, had de|ia.'te(i 
from the neighborhood, no one know wiiitlier. Harmony, in a word, h;id 
been some days re,-tored in the Fort, and tiie only tiling thai, detracted from 
tlie general c.jntentnient, was the uncertainly attending the fate of Mr. 
Ileywood — regretted less, however, for his own sake, than for that of iiis 
.amiable daughter, who vainly sought to conceal Iroin her friends, the anxiety 
induced by an absence, the duration of which it was utterly iaipossible to 
divine. As hir Mrs. Heywood, she was stiil iu ignorance, so Mell h.id things 
been managed by tne Elmsleys, that any of the fearful scenes iuul occurred. 
She siill believed lier husband to be at the I'arm. 

But, as it w as not likely she could much longer remaiu iu ignorauce of 
what had been ilie subject of conversation with every one around her, it 



82 HARDSCRABBLB ; OK, 

was advised by Von Votteaberg, that, as tbe waimtli of spring was now 
fully developed, and all dread of the Indians resuming tlieir liostile visit, at 
ai! end, she sliould be conveyed back to the cottage, the [Uire air around 
which, was much niore likely to im|)rove her health, than the confined 
atmos|ihere of the Fort. Hhe had accordingly been removed thither early 
in May, accompanied by Ijcr daughter and Catherine. 

Ronayne, of course, become once more a daily visitor, and soon beneath 
liis hand, the garden began again to assume the beautiful garb it had worn 
at that season, for the last two years. The interviews of tbe lovers here, 
freed from the restraints imposed upon them while in the Fort, had resumed 
that fervent character which had marked them on the afternoon of tbe day 
when they so solemnly interchanged their vows of undying faith. They 
now no longer merely looked their love. They s|)oke of it — drank in the 
sweet avowal from each others lips, and luxuriated in the sweet pleasure it 
imparted. They were as the whole world to each other, and although 
language could not convey a warmer expression of their feelings, than had 
already gone forth from their lips, still was the repetition replete with a 
sweetness that never palled upon the ear. Like the man who never tires 
of gazing upon his gold, so did they never tire of the treasures of the 
espressi^d love, that daily grew more intense in their hearts. And yet, 
notwithstanding this utter devotedness of soul — notwithstauing her flattering 
heart confessed in secret the fullest realization of those dreams which had 
filled and sustained her in early girlhood — albeit the assurance the felt that, 
in Ronayne, she bad found the impersonation of the imaginings of her 
maturer life, still wlienever he urged her in glowing language to name the 
day when she would become bis wife, she evaded an answer, not from 
caprice, but because she would not bring to him a heart clouded by the 
slightest tinge of that anxiety with which ignorance of her father's fate, 
could not fail to shade it. A painftil circumstance which happened about 
that period, at length, however, brought affairs to a crisis. 

It was a lovely evening towards the close of May, and after a somewhat 
sultry morning wliich had been devoted to a ride on horseback along the lake- 
shore — Mrs. Headley and Mrs. Elmsley, who had accompanied them, having 
returned home, that Ronayne and his betrothed sat in the little summer- 
house already described. Mrs. Heywood who had been so far recovered 
from her weakness by the change of air, as to take slight exercise in the 
garden, supported by her daughter, and the y(mr,g officer, had on this 
occasion ex[ires«ed a wish to join them, in order tliat she might inhale tbe 
soft breeze tluat blew from the south, and enjoy once more the scenery of 
the long reach of the river, which wound its .ser])entine cour.se from the 
direction of the farm. To this desire no other objection was offered, than 
what was suggested by her companions, from an apprehen'-iou iliat the 
fatigue of the ascent would be :oo great for her. She, however, persisted 
in her wish, declaring that she felt herself quite strong enough — an assertion 
for which her returning color gave some evidence. They ceased to oppose 
her. It was the first time the invalid had been in the summer-house, since 
the same period the preceding spring, and naturally associating the recollec- 
tion of her husband, with the lamibar objects in the distance, she took her 
daughter's hand, and said in a low and husky voice, that proved how much 
she had overrated her own strength : 

"How is it, Maria, my love, that we have seen nothing of your father, 
lately? .1 have never known him, since we have been in this part of the 
country, to be so long absent from us at one tiTue." 

" Nay, dear mamma," returned the pained girl, the tears starting to her 
eyes, in spite of her efforts to restrain them, " I do not exactly know 
what can detain him. Perhaps be is not at the farm," and here her tears 
forced their way — " you know, dearest mamma, that he is very fond of 
long hunting excursions." 

"Yes, but, my child, why do you weep? Surely there is nothing in that 
to produce such enjotion. He will soon be back again." 

" Oh 1 yes, 1 hope so. Forgive me, my dear mamma, bat I have a very 



THE FALL OP CHICAGO. 83 

bad head-aclie, and never felt more nervous tlian I do this eveninjj. Perhaps 
it is the effect of my ride in the heat of the sun. Shall we go on. It is 
nearly sunset, and I dread your being exposed to the night-air." 

"Oh! it is so deliciinis," softly returned the invalid; " I feel as if I had 
not lived for the last twelve months, until now. Only a Utile while longer, 
shall I not, Mr. Rouayne? Perhaps 1 may never have an opijortunity of 
ascendi-ng to this suniiner-iiouse again." 

During this short conversation, trifling in itself, but conveying, under the 
circumstances, sn mucli subject for deep and painful reflections, the young 
otHcer iiad evinced much restlessness of manner, yet vvitliout interposing 
any other remark tliau to join Miss lieywood's entreaties that her niDther 
wi'uld sulVer h'.'rself to be conducted home, before the dew should begin to 
fall. In order, moreover, as much as pos>iblo to leave them uninterjupted in 
tlie indulgence of their feelings, lie had from the first risen, and stood with 
his back to them, within the entrance of the summer house, and was now, 
wi^h a view to drown their conversation to his own ear, whistling to Loup 
Garou, sitting on his haunches outside the garden-gate, looking lixedly at 
him. 

Touched by the account he had received of tlie fidelity of the dog, he 
had, with the consent of Sergeant Nixon, who was glad to secure for his 
favorite so kind a protector, become possessed of him from the moment of 
liis return home; and time, whicli had in some degree blunted the sorrow 
of the animal for the loss of one master, rendered equally keen his instinct 
of attachment for the other. Witliin the month lie had been his, every care 
had been taken by Rouayne iiimself, as well sis by his servant, to wean the 
mourner from the grave of Le Noir, on which, for the first few days, he had 
lain, ab.sorbed in grief — refusing all food, until, yielding at length to the 
voice of kindness, his memory of the past seemed to have faded wholly 
away. 

Ronayne, however, from a fear of exciting unpleiusant recoUectiims in 
those who were not ignorant of the former position of tlie dog, had endea- 
voured as mucli as possible, to [irevent him from crossing the river during 
his visits to the cottage ; but, within the last four or five days, Loup Ganm 
would not thus be kept back, and when expelled from the boat, had swam 
across, taking up his station at tlie gate, beyond which, however, he did not 
presume to pass, as if sensible that the delicate parterres within, were 
interdicted ground, and tliero generally lay squatted with his nose resting on 
the grass, between his outstretched fore-paws, until his master came forth 
on his return home. 

The unexpected and encouraging whistle of the latter on this occa-ion, 
which had been given in pure unconsciousness, caused him to prick his ears, 
and uttering n sharp cry, he S|)rang over the gate, hounding rapidly towards 
the eminence on whicli his master stood. About half-way between its base 
and the summit, there was a beautiful rose-bush which had been planted by 
Ronayne, and from whicii lie had phickeil two flowers, for tlie mother and 
daughter, during the ascent, and presented with a hand that was observed 
by Maria Ueywood to tremble, and a cheek unwontedly pale. 

On arriving opposite the rose-tree, the animal suddenly stopi)ed, and 
putting his nose to the ground clo.^e uuder it, and sniffing almost furiously, 
uttered a prolonged and melancholy howl, while, with his fore-paws he 
began to scratch up the loo.se earth around, regardless of the voice of 
Jiis master, who renewed his wiiistliiig, and called upon him almost angrily 
to desist. 

Al.armed at this perseverance of action, the ensign descended to tlie spot 
— laid hands <m Loup Garou, and sought to remove him, but the animal, 
strong of neck — full in the chest — and on the present occasion, uuder the 
influence of furious impulse, was not to be restrained. 

The moaning of the dog — the descent — the corrective voice of his master^ 
and the .seeming struggle of both to attain ojiposite purposes, naturally 
attracted the attention of those above, and they both rose and neared to the 
door-way Ronayne had so recently quitted. Their horror may Well be 



84 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

imagined when, on looking down, they found that the dog had already 
uncovered a human body, wliicli, though disfigured and partially decomposed, 
filial and conjugal affection too clearly distinguished as tlie father of the one, 
tlie husband of the otber ! 

Uttering a feeble sliriek, Mrs. Hey wood fell insensible within the thres- 
liold of tlie suTnmer-lnmse, while her daughter, less overwlielnied, but with 
feelings impossible to describe, stooped and chafed her mother's temples, and 
notwithstanding a horrid thought, whioli, despite her own will, shot through 
her mind, that the man to whom she had given every affection of her heart, 
was in some degree oounecred with this hori'id spectacle, she called vehe- 
mently to him for assistance. 

The situation of the perplexed officer was scarcely less painful. On the 
one hand, feeling all the necessity of retaining his grasp of Loup Garou, as 
the only means of preventing him from furtlier uncovering of the body — on 
the other, urged by the summons of her, whom he knew, from her very 
manner, to be in possession of this fearful secret, his mind beoouje a perfect 
chaos, and large drops of perspiration streamed from his brow. In this 
irritating dilemmn, a sudden transport of rage took possession of his heart, 
and seizing Loup Garou with both his liands, he so compressed them around 
his throat, that the dog, already esluunted with his exertions, was half- 
strangled before being raised with a frantic effort, and dashed with violence 
npon the body he bad so unhappily been instrumental in discovering. 

Scarcely had this been done — a low moaning from Loup Garou, as if • 
reproaching him for the act, alone denoting that he breathed, when the 
ensign Hew up the steps of tlie summer-house, and regardless of the 
involuntary half-shudder of his betrothed, as he aiijiroachcd, caught tlie 
insensible invalid in his arms, and so carrying her, that her eyes, if she 
should open them, could not encounter the horrid spectacle below, again 
rapidly descended, and hurried towards the house. Maria Heywood, on 
passing the rose-rree so recently prizeil, but now so abhorrent to her sight, 
could not resist a strong imjiulse to look upon the mysteries so strangely 
unveiled, but although the twilight had not yet passed away, nothing could 
be seen but the displaced earth, and stretched over the excavation lie 
himself had made, the motionless body of the dog. 

Sick at heart, and with wild and unconnected images floating through her 
heated braiu, she followed almost mechanically to the cottage. 

This was no time for ceremony. Wlien answering the loud ring, Catherine 
appeared hurriedly at the door, Konayne bore his inaiuniate charge into her 
bed-room, and in silence and dee|) grief, sought, by every means in liis 
power, to restore lier. But all his ett'orts proving vain, he, in a stale of mind 
difficult to describe, tore a leaf from his jiooket-book, wrote a few liurried 
lines to Elmsley, recpiesting him to allow his wife to come over inmiediately 
with Von Vottenborg, and when they had departed, to call upon Captain 
Headley and exjUain tlie cause of his absence. This note he gave to 
Catherine, with instructions to cross in the boat which was waiting for 
himstlf, and to return with Mrs. Elmsley, or if she did did not come, with 
the doi't. 'r. 

When left together, beside the insensible body of Mrs. Ileywood, tlie 
lovers experienced for the first time, a feeling of restraint, for in the hearts 
of both, were passing tl'.oiigbts which neither seemed desirous of imparting. 
But, Maria Heywood, gentle as she was, was not of a character long to 
endure the state of uncertainty under wliicli she labored. The strange 
wild .apjirehensions which had arisen, she knew not how or why, had so 
preyed upon her (juiet, that suspense became intolerable, and at length, 
addressing her lover in a voice, never more melancholy or touching than at 
that moment, and looking at him with an expression of deep sadness, while 
the large tears trickled down her cheeks. 

" Ronaync, you know — yuu must have known — your whole conduct 
throughout tills affair, proves you must have known of my poor father's 
death, and of his rude — almost insulting burial in that fatal spot. How ho 
came hither, you best can tell. Oh ! Harry, it is very cruel thus to have 



rHE FALL OF CniCAGO. 85 

reposed the confidence of the entire soul, and then to have been disappointed. 
This cruel discovery will be the means of destroying ray peace forever, 
unless you give the explanation which alone can restore our confidence in 
eaoli other — yet liow can 1, with these glaring truths befora my eyes, expect 
tliat vuu will ?" 

"Iii-ulting burial! oli, Maria, I feel tliat I never loved you more than now 
when you would break my heart with this unkindness." He bent his bead 
upon the same pillow, upon which reclined the unconscious head of the 
mollier (if tlie woman whom he so ardently loved, and wept tears of bitter- 
ness and sorrow. 

" 1 cannot stand this, Ronayne, dear Ronayne, whatever you be — whatever 
you may liave done, I love you with all the ardor of the most devoted soul! 
but," siie continued, more composedly, "forgive me, if my feelings and my 
judgment are at issue. One question I must ask, cost what it may, for I 
cannot longer endure this agony of suspense — no, for your sake I cannot 
endure it. How is it that you have always made a secret — a mystery even 
to me, of the motive of your absence on tliat fatal night succeeding the 
massacre at the ftirm." 

'• Dear Maria. I can well forgive the question in the excitement which 
must have been produced in you by the startling events of tliis evening." 

" liuuayne,"' she mournfully interrupted — "your sudden interference with 
the dug — your struggle with liim — nay, your very manner of speaking now, 
convince me that you knew my father lay buried beneath that rose-tree. In 
candor, answer me. Yes or no." 

" And, admitting I bad had that knowledge, Maria — can you imagine no 
good reason for my forbearing all allusion to the subject?" 

'" Yet, why conceal the fact from one wlio had supposed }ou could have 
no c<inceahiieut from her — and tlien again, how am I to reconcile the 
circumstance of my poor father having been reported to be a prisoner — a 
report wliicli, sanctioned by yourself, left me not utterly hopele?s — and the 
fact o( his burial liere — evidently with your knowledge." 

" Maria," returned Ronayne, im|ire.ssivel}', and with an expression of much 
pain at the remark, "as I have already said, I can make every allowance, in 
recollection of the painful scene of which I have, in some degree, been the 
cause, but is it generous — is it quite appreciating 1113' character and my 
feelings towards yourself, to doubt that I iiad intended from the first, and at 
a fitting moment, to explain every thing to you?" 

Afjain was tlie confidence of the generous girl established, and with almost 
passionate warmtli, she exclaimed. "Oh! Ronayne, forgive — forgive me, 
but lids melancholy — this harrowing occurrence has made me so far not 
myself — mat I almost hate myself. Tell me, dear Ronayne, do you forgive 
me ?" 

" Ye^, from tlie bottom of my soul, do I forgive you, and yet, dearest, 
there IS nothing to forgive, for how could it be otherwise, tlian that your 
poor and sorely tried heart should be subjected to wild imaginings inexplicable 
to yourself The ordeal to which you have been submitted, is a severe one, 
but 1 am sure your oppressed heart will be greatly lightened when you shall 
have bci u in posst-ssiun of the tiiith connected with this most melancholy 
aftair — your regard for me, will if possible, be even greater than before. 
Pardon this seeming vanity. 1 make the assertion because I know it will 
not a Hi tie console you, under this terrible infliction." 

It w.-i- :i siraiige siglit, that of these lovers, hitherto so devoted and now 
only lc--Miporarily hah-cioubtiiig, talking of the fate of one parent while 
leaning over the a|iparent deatli-bcd of the other. 

" Ronayne, dear Ronayne, I am satisfied — fully, wholly satisfied, and as 
you observe, the assurance which you have now given me, will form my 
chief sU|>pori under ihis double affliction," and she pointed, weeping, to 
her molliei', whose scarcely perceptible breathing alono attested tliat she 
lived. 

"Maria," be said tenderly and gravely, as be took her hand in his, ovei 

6 



86 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

tlie invalid — " the Iionr of your promise is come — th'3 fnte of your f.itlier is 
known — would tliat it li.id been less abruptly rovenled — and wtre etlior 
inducoinent to keep it wanting, is it not to be found here? But at this 
moment 1 will ask nothing which you may feel reluetani'C in giaiiiing. To- 
morrow we will speak of this again — to-morrow you shall know how much I 
have sought — how much [ have risked — to soften the pang which I knew 
would, soon or late be inflicted on her whom I so love."' 

"Generous — kind — considerate Konayne, I can fully nnderstiind you, yet, 
ah! what must you think of me, who could for a moment duubt your power 
to explain every act of your life, however ambiguous in a])pearanoe. But 
what is that paper you have taken from your pocket-book V 

" One that I have long, designed fnr your perusal. It was written a few 
da)s after the events at the farm, and I have since then trequenlly deterijiined 
to place it in your hands iu order that, in the saoredness of solitude, you 
might indulge in the bitter tears its few p:ige3 will wring from you ; but too 
selfish — yes, selfish, and severely am I punished for it — to sutler the joy of 
the hour to he broken in upon by sadness, I have hitherto delayed putting 
ynu in possession of that which, if only communicated a day earlier, would 
have spared us this painful scene. But I hear footsteps approaching. They 
must be those of Mrs. Elmsley and the doctor, with Catlierine. Be not 
surprised, dearest, if I leave you soon after they enter, for I have something 
to do this evening which will require my presence in the Fort. Early in the 
morning, however, I shall be here." 

" I understand well what demands your presence elsewhere," she returned 
with a look of deep gratitude and love. "Oh! Ronayne, whatever may 
happen," and the tears streamed down her pale face, as slie pointed to lier 
mother — " hear me declare that whatever you may ask of me one month 
hence, I shall not consider myself justified in refusi:.g." 

Scarcely had he time to impress upon her lips his deep but chastened sense 
of happiness, when the party ctpected, entered the ro(un — Von Vottenberg 
immediately applying himself to an examination of the patient, whose condi- 
.tion, it was evident from his unnsally grave look, he conceived to be highly 
critical. 

Dreading to hear his opinion pronounced in the presence of his betrothed, 
and the more so, because ho had in some degree been its cause, the young 
officer, after having warmly shaken hands with Mrs. Elmsley, whom he 
thanked for her prompt attention, urged her to do all in her power to soothe 
Maria, to whom, at jiarting, he also oftercd his hand, while his eye was 
eloquent with tlje feelings he could not well oi>eMly express. 

He first directed his course towards the rose-busli, and approached it with 
a feeling almost similar to what woidd have been experienced by him, had 
he been the actual murderer of Mr. Heywood. Lmip Garou was sitting 
crouched near the head and was so far recovered as to prowl rather fiercely 
at him, as he ajiproached. On hearing the voice of his master, not in anger 
but in conciliation, he aro.se, slightly wagged his tail, and came forward 
slowly and crunching, as if in dread of furtlier punishment, his lip upcurled, 
showing all his upper teotb, and with a short, quick snee:«e, peculiar to his 
half- wolf-blooded race. 

Calling t;ently to the animal, he preceded him to the gate, desiring him 
to wail there until he returned — an injunction evidently understiiod by the 
dog, which, crouching down iu his accustomed posture, ventm'ed not to 
move. With the small .spud, .already alludL-d to, and then near the rose-tree, 
he put back in small quantities the displaced eartli, until the glia--tly face, 
indistinctly seen in the star-light, was again wholly hidden from view. This 
done, he approached the bank of the river, followed by the dog, and gave a 
shrill whistle, which, without being answered, speedily brought over the 
boat; in which he now embarked for the oppo.-ite shore. 

His first care was to seek Elmsley, who, as ofiicer of the guard, was up 
accoutred for duty, and was now ionising over an old " Washington Intelli- 
gencer," that had been read at lea>t a dozen limes before, while he smoked 



THE FALL OF CUICAGO. 87 

his pipe and sipped from ;i liowl ol' wliisl;y puiioli, which Von Vottenberg 
had just tinislied brewinir, wlieii so suddenly surnnioiied to tlie cottage. 

After Eonayae had detailed to his IViend the occurrences of the evening, 
and communicated liis views, they both issued lortli to the guard-room, 
where Sergeant Nison happened to be upon dnt3^ Wirli the latter, a brief 
conversation was held Vjy Ronayne, ending witli an injunction for him to 
come to Lieutonuut Elmsley's quarters and announce to )iim (tlie former), 
when certain arrangements which had been agreed upon, were completed. 

Returned to tlie abode of the latter, the young officer required no very- 
great pressing to induce him to join his superior in the beverage, to which 
anxiety of mind not less than fatigue of body had so much disposed him, 
yet of which both partook moderately. While so empuiyed, and awaiting 
the appearance of the sergeant, Kouayne, who had now no motive for 
further mystery or concealment, detailed at the request of his friend, but in 
much more succinct terms than he had done in the pa[jer he had handed to 
Maria Heywood, the circumstances connected with his absence from the 
Fort, on tlie night of the attack upon the farm, and tlie means taken by 
him to attain the object in wliich he had been thwarted by Captain Headley. 



88 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 



CHAPTER XII. 

" Yon dam Yankee, sti'p Injin when him go wigwam,'' commenced 
Ronayne, rising at the fame time and imitating the acii<m of one unsteady 
from intoxication. " 'Spose tell liim gnbbernor?" 

"Ah! you liorrid wretch — I see it all now, yet could I have been .-io 
imposed upon? You then were the pretended drunken Indian I let out that 
night? Upon my word. Master Ronayne, I never will forgive you for that 
trick." 

" Yes you will, old fellow. It was the only way to save you from a scrape, 
but I confess I have often since langlied in iny sleeve at the recollection of 
the manner in whicli I deceived you." 

" Ilang mo if you didn't play your part to admiration, but the best of the 
jest is, that on reporting the circumstance to Headley, on the following 
morning, he said I had acted perfectly right ; so had you known this when 
you had that scene on the i>arade, you might have pleaded his sanction. 
However, all that is over. Now then for your adventure." 

" The tale is soon told," began Ronayne. "On the evening when you 
and Von Vottenberg were so busy, the one in concocting his whisky-punch 
— the other in cutting up the Virginia, I was sacking my brain for a means 
to accomplish my desire to reach the farm, where I had a strong presenti- 
ment, from the lateness of the hour, without bringing any tidings of them, 
the lishing-party were, with Mr. lleywood and bis people, in a state of 
siege, and I at length decided im what seemed to me to be the only available 
plan. I was not sorry to see j'ou leave after taking your second glass, for I 
knew that I should have little difSculty in sewing up the doctor, whose 
tumbler I rei>eatedly filled, and made him drink off after sundry toast.*, 
while he did not perceive — or was by no means snrry if he did — that I 
merely sipped from my own. When I thouglit he bad swallowed enough to 
prevent him from interfering with my project, I bade him good idght and 
left hiiii, knowing well tliat in less than ten minutes he would be asleep. 
Instead, however, of going to bed, I hastened at once to preliminaries, having 
first got rid of my servant whom I did not wish to implicate, by making 
biui acquainted with my intended absence. But tell me, did you examine 
my room at all the next day ?" 

" I did." 

" And found nothing missing ?" 

" Nothing. I scouted every where, and found only yourself wanting — 
the bed unrumpled, and every thing in perfect bachelor order." 

" And that leather dress, my dear fellow, in which I (jnce paid a visit to 
the camp of Wiunebeg, from whose squaw, indeed, I had bought it. You 
know it generally hangs against tlie wall at the foot of my bed." 

"Ah! now I recollect, that was not there certainly, although I did not 
notice its absence then — so then, that was the dress you went out in, and I 
such a goose as not to remark it." 

"Because you know that 1 had bad the precaution to throw a blanket 
over it in the mo,-.t approved Pottowattamie style, while my features were 
colored with gambouge and Indian ink." 

" Well, say no more about that — I am ashamed to have been so taken in 
by a Johnny Raw. We will now suppose yon kicked out of the Fort. Did 
I not kick you out," he added humoronsly, '' ami say, begone, you drunken 
dog, and never show your ugly face here again!" 

" On the contrary," returned his junior in the same mocking strain, "you 
Were but too glad glad to be civil when I threatened you with the 'gnb- 
bernor V " 

" Once out of the Fort," he gravely continued, "my course was ])lMin. I 
.mmedi;aely went to the wigwam of Wiunebeg, whom I found seated, with 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 8& 

his toes almost in the embers of aa expiring fire, and smoking his last pipe 
previons to wrapping himself up for the night in his blanket. You may 
imagine his surprise, when, after some little difficulty, he recognized in that 
garb, and at that hour, particularly after tlie events of tlie day, with which 
lie li.ad been made acquainted by Mr. Frazer, before the latter, witli his 
family, took refuge in the Fort. Still, true to the dignified reserve of liis 
race, he concealed its much a< possible wliat was passing in his mind, and 
made me sit by his side, new which, 1 have omitted to say, was an extremely 
handsome young Iiulian, whom he presented to me as his son, and then bade 
me tell him the object of my visit. 

" Of course I knew enough of Indian etiquette to be satisfied that I should 
giiin by not attemiiting to hurry matters, and I accordingly suppressed my 
own im]>atience wliile taking a few whitfs from the pipe he courteously 
oflered to me. Winnebeg then received it back, and while he sat witli his 
eyes fixed intently on the fire, putied away in an attitude of profound atten- 
tion which encouraged me to proceed. 

" When he had heard all I liad to say in regard to the fears I entertained 
for the absent party — for I did not confine my profession of interest to one 
— my vain application to the commandaut, and my strong reliance upon him to 
send a parBy of his young men with me to the farm, his eye suddenly kindled 
— his countenance assumed a more animated expression, and removing the 
pipe from his lips, and puffing forth a more than usual volume of smoke, he 
cordially shook my hands, saying something in Indian to his son, who 
immediately sprang to his feet, and disappeared from the tent. 

" After a lapse of time which seemed to me as an age, the youth re-ap- 
peared with a dozen young warriors, all armed and decked in tlieir war 
paint. They remained grouped round the entrance for a few minutes, while 
Wauiiangee changed his own dress, and Wiimebeg provided rae with a rifle 
tomahawk and scalping-knife. Thus accoutred I took the lead with the 
former, and after cautiously creeping through the encampment, p.assed along 
the skirt of the wood that almost overhung the river. We moved off at a 
quick walk, but soon our pace increased to a half-run, so anxious were we all 
to get to the farm. 

" We had not proceeded more than half-w.iy wlien we saw a small boat, 
■which I immediately distinguished as that belonging to the fishing-party, 
slowly descending the river. Tlie Indians simult:ineously, and as if governed 
by one common instinct, dropped flat on the ground, as I sujiposed to remain 
unseen until the boat should come opposite to them, while I, tincertain by 
whom it was occupied, and anxious to ascertain, after whispering a few 
words to Waunangee, jnoved cautiously in advance along the shore. When 
I had crept up about fifty yards, I could distinctly see that it was one of 
our men, and I immediately hailed to know wlio he was, and where the 
remainder of tlie party were. 

" Scarcely had he answered ' Collins,' and commenced a few words of 
explanation of the cause of his being there and alone, when the forms of 
two Indians, which I fancied I had before detected creeping along the sliore, 
regulating their stealthy progress by that of the boat, started into full height, 
and silently bounded towards me — one a little in advance of the other. The 
moment was critical. They were not twenty paces from me, and I have 
often since wondered at the presence of mind I preserved. It occurred to 
me tliat they would not commit the ini|iru(lence of using fir"-arms .so near 
the Fort, and that steel only would bo resorted to by them. This suggested 
my own course. 'I'hrowiiig my rifle upon tlie beach in order that Collin.s, 
wlio w.'is now pulling for the sliore, miglit seize and use it as occasion 
should require, I grasped the scalping-knife in my left hand, and with my 
tomahawk in my right, did not wait for the aitack, but rushed upon the 
foremost Indian, for 1 knew tli.at my only chance of success lay in the killing 
or disabling of one betbre his comr.ade could come up. At tlie same time, 
both to apprise Waunangee of my position, and to daunt my adversaries, I 
uttered one of these tremendous yells, you know I so well can imitate, and 



90 HARDSCRABBLE ; OE, 

receiving the blow of his tomahawlv upon my own, thrown up in true 
militarj' guard, plunged my knife into his body with such suddenness and 
force, that on examining it afterwards, I found that at least half an inch of 
the tapering handle had followed the blade. The savage fell dead wiihout 
uttering a groan, a siglit which, instead of checking tlie advance of liia 
companion, rather nrged him to revenge his fall. Ho had now come up 
with me, brandishing his tomahawk, when I put myself again on my guard, 
purposing to use my knife as 1 had done before, but at the very moment 
when the descent of his weapon was expected by me, he was suddenly 
seized from behind, raised from his feet, and thrown upon the ground. This 
was the act uf Collins, who had g.'iined the shore just after the tirst Indian 
fell, and had flown to my assistance. 

" At the same moment, Wauuangee, who, with his warriors had started up 
on hearing my loud yell of defiance, came quickly to the spot, and they were 
not a little astounded to see an Indian, whom they instantly pronounced to 
be a Winnebago, lying motionless at my feet, nor was their respect for me 
at all lessened, when on handing my scalping-knife from one to the other, 
they perceived what a proficient I was in the use of their own favorite 
weapon. 

" Of course I was not silly enough to detract from my own glory, by 
admitting that it was as much the result of accident as of design. They 
made signs for me to scalp him, but having no particular desire to possess 
this trophy of my successful hand to hand encounter, one of the young men 
asked me to waive my right in his favor. This I did, and the scalp of the 
Winnebago was soon dangling from his waist. The other spoils 1 did not 
object to, and his rifle, tomahawk, and knife are now in Winnebago's tent, 
until there oflers a favorable opportunity of bringing them to my quarters. 
But to proceed. 

" So much time had been passed in the examination of the body of the 
slain Winnebago, that his comrade had found ample time to escape. The 
Pottowatlamies had not seen him, and Collins, after having temporarily 
disiibled him, had run up to afford me further assistance, on seeing advancing 
in the rear, those whom he took to be of the same hostile party. Thus left 
nnwatched, tlie savage had managed to creep away into the wood, and when 
attention was at length drawn to him, he was not to be seen. 

" When Collins bad explained the position of the party at the farm, whose 
danger, on finding himself of no service there, he was then on his way to 
report, I proposed to Waunaugee that half of his warriors should ascend by 
land, while the remainder with himself, accompanied me in the boat. We 
accordingly separated, and made what h.iste we could to our destination — 
the party on shore regulating their progress by tliat of the boat. During 
the descent my anxiety was very great, for my whole soul was bent upon 
the attainment of one object — tliat of restoring Mr. Heywood unliarmed to 
his family. But the absence of all sound indicating conflict was by no 
means favorable, and I had already begun to fear tliat the silence which 
prevailed, was but the residt of victory on the part of the hostile band who 
had departed, when suddenly the loud, fierce yell of disappointment which 
burst from them, as I have since understood, when a ladder by which they 
attempted to enter was thrown from the roof by Nixon, rang encouragingly 
upon n\y ear, and urged me to increased exertion. Our progress, however, 
was by no means proportioned to my anxiety, for somehow or other, only 
two oars were in the boat, and, as the Indians did not much care or know 
how to pull in lime, the task devolved wholly upon Collins and myself. At 
length, just as the day was beginning to dawn, we i-eached the farm-house, 
about a hundred yards beyond which we put in and landed, making a detour 
by the barn, so as to meet the remainder of our little force in the rear, 
and thus to place the enemy, if actually surrounding the house, between 
two fires. 

"After wai'ing, however, some little time, and finding every thing quiet, 
my .•ippn-lion-ions increased, for, although not the sign of a Winnebago 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 91 

•could be seen, so pruf mnd w.-is the stillness wiiliin, that I began to think 
tlie whole of the party had been eitlier captured or murdered. Suddenly, 
however, wliile hesitating as to the course to bo pursued — for I feared that 
if tlie party were all right, and the enemy departed, they miglit fire upon us 
as we api)roaelied — I saw a man in Amei'icin undress uniform, whom I had 
no difficulty in rcougnizing as Coriiural N'ixon, i.-^sue from the back of the 
house witli a 'na^ket in his hands, and turning tlie corner with an appearance 
of nmch caution, make ha.stily for the river. Directing Waunangee, whose 
two bands liad now joineil, and were then lying closely cono-aled in the 
barn, to enter the liouse 119 cautiously and noiselessly as possible, 1 hastened 
after Nixon, from whom, after recovering fro'u his first fright at finding 
himself unarmed, atul in the power of one whom he naturally took for one 
of his recent as.sailants, I received a brief account of all tliat had occurred. 
On entering the liouse with liim, shortly al'terwards, what a contrast was 
present — on tlie one hand the ludicrous — the horrihle on the otiier. 

'• 01o.-e witliin the doorway lay the dead body of Mr. Heywood " 

" Tlie dead body of Mr. Heywood !" exclaimed Elmsley, starting from his 
chair in almost dismay at the intelligence. " How comes it, Ronayne, tliat 
you have never spoken of tliis before?" 

" No interruption, Elmsley — hear me to tlie clo.se — close within the door- 
way, I repeat, lay the dead body of Mr. Heywood — his face much disfigured 
— and his large frame almost rigid in a poid of clotted blood. Imagine what 
a si;;ht this was to me, whose sole object and hope it had been to restore the 
father in safety to the daughter, although at intervals during the route, I had 
more than once dreaded something of the ^ort. Stupefied at the spectacle, 
I felt my heart to sicken, as the idea of the grief by which Maria would be 
overwhelmed when this sad tale should be revealed to her, rose to my 
imagination. But even then my presence of mind did not desert me, and I 
already deternnned on what was to be done. In some degree consoled by 
this, I rai-ed my glance from the body to observe what further atrocity had 
been committed. Three or four Indians were grouped around, evident!}' 
regarding the corpse with deep interest, for Mr. Heywood had often hunted 
with them, aud givtn tliem refreshments when stopping to rest at his place, 
while on their way to the Fort laden with game. Further on the great 
body of Waunangce"s jieople were standing leaning on their rifles,' and 
enjoying the mistake of three of our fellows, who naturally taking them, 
from the great resemblance of dre.ss, to be their enemies who had obtained 
an entrance, were liolding aloft, in an attitude of defiance — one a huge poker 
thrust through the carcass of an enormous bird, and two others a blackened 
leg and wing, evidently belonging to the same animal, which they ever and 
anon brandislied over their heads, while thoir eyes were rivetted on the 
dusky forms before them. The wooden partition sustained their muskets, 
from which the interposing Indians had cut them oft', and against the front 
door of the house, which was clo.sed and barred, leaned the only armed man 
of the party, deprived, however, of all power of action." 

"What a scene for some American ilogartli !" interrujited the lieutenant, 
" and how graphically you have described it. I can see the picture before 
me now." 

''I confess," answered Ronayne, "I could not even, .amid all my own 
painful feelings, suppress a smile at its extreme absurdity, for the appearance 
of three men seeking to defend them.sclves tVom whai tliey believed to be 
fierce and blood-thirsty enemies, with the burnt carcass and hmbs of an old 
turkey-cock, was such a burlesque on the chiv.alrous, that, knowing as I did 
how little their supposed enemy wa« to be dreaded, I coidd not suppress 
thoughts which, wldle they ftwced themselves upon me, I was angry at 
allowing myself to entertain. To understand the scene fidly, you must have 
looked on it yourself. Had I recoante<l this to you yesterday, or even this 
morning. I could have filled np the picture more grotesquely, and yet not less 
truly. But now 1 have too great a weight on my spirits to give more than 
a simple sketch. 



92 HARDSCRABBLE : OR, 

" At the annonnoeraent of my name and purpose, the statue at the door 
became suddenly disenchanted — the legs and wings fell — a man dropped 
liglitly from the loft, musket in hand, and Oass only, with his gaze intently 
fixed on the mocking savages before him, of whom he took me indeed to be 
one, continued his defensive attitude with the poker, nor was it until 1 had 
advanced and taken his weapon from him, amid tlie loud laughter of the 
young Indians, tliat he finally came to his senses. And yet, after all, poor 
devil, his distrust was but natural. 

" No time was to be lost. While some of the men were, according to tny 
instructions, wrapping iu a blanket the body of Mr. Hey wood, after removing 
from it wliat blood they could, and tlie otliers bore to the boat the unfor- 
tunate Le Noir, whom I had not at first distinguished, so completely had he 
been covered over by his dog and walnut blossoms, I took the corporal 
aside, and explained to him how important it was that notliing shoidd be 
known at the Fort of the fate of Mr. Heywood. On Ids asking what he 
should say if questioned, I desired him (with some hesitation, I confess, for I 
knew I was setting a bad example to the men, wliicli only the peculiar 
circumstances of the case could justify), to give an evasive answer, and 
say tliat the Indians had carried him ofl:' with them, whicli indeed would be 
the fact, as I intended him to be borne away by the party I had brought. 
I told him, moreover, that at a fitting opportunity, I would explain 
every thing to Captain Headley, and take all the responsibility upon 
myself. 

" On his promptly saying that he would, I added that the men of his 
party should be made acquainted with tny wish, and asked if I might depend 
upon their secrecy. He replied that tliere was not a man among lliein who 
did not so love Miss Heywood, as to run the risk of any punishment, rather 
than utter one word that could be the means of giving her pain, and 
that while on the way down he would take care to warn thera. 

" Elmsley, I was touched at this — almost to tears — for it was a source of 
proud yet tender pleasure to me — much more so than I can express — to 
know tliat Maria was so great a favorite with these rude-hearted fellows. 
Assured that every thing was right, I told the corporal to embark his men 
immediately, and pull for the Fort, while I, with Waunaugee and his Indians 
proceeded by land with the body of Mr. Heywood. 

'"Don't you tliink, sir,' said the corporal, hesitatingly, as he prepared to 
execute my orders — ' don't you think it would be well for the ladies' sake 
that tliey should not be reminded of the name of this place, more than can 
be helped V 

" 'Undoubtedly, Nixon, but what do you mean?' 

" ' Why, sir, I mean that as poor Mr. Heywood never can be here again, 
it would be better n<jthing should be lett to remind them of the bloody 
doings of yesterday.' 

" ' And what other name would you give it?' I asked. 

" ' If it was left to me, Mr. Ronayne,' replied the corporal ; ' I would cull 
it Haudsoabble, on account of the hard struggle the fellows must have had 
with Mr Heywood, judging from his wounds and his broken rifle, before 
they mastered him.' 

" ' Then, Haedsohabbus be it,' I said, ' not that I can really see it will 
make much difference in calling tlie thing to mind, yet it would scarcely be 
fair to deny to you, who have so bravely defended the place, the privilege 
of giving it a new name, if the old one is to be abandoned.' 

"'Thank you, sir,' returned Nixon, 'but if you hadn't come to our 
assistance, I don"t know what the upshot might have been, I suspect that 
fellow whose comrade you killed, sent them ott' sooner than tliey intended.' 

'■ ' No more of that, Nixon — and now do you remember what you are to 
say when you get back to the Fort?' 

" ' I do, sir, and every man shall be told to say as I do — but abont the new 
name, Mr. Ronayne,' he pursued, returning, after he had gone a few paoes^ 
'do you think, sir, Mrs. Heywood will consent to it?' 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 93 

" ' My good fellow,' I answered, ' recollect that Mrs. Hey wood muf t know 
nothing about it — at least for tlie present. I will settle all that later. In 
the mean time, as you have called it Hardsorabble, so let it remain.' 

" And Hardsorabble tliat scene of blood is called to this hour. 

" I had at first apprehended," pursued Rocayne, " that the Indians would 
evince disinclination to carry the body so long a distance, or even at all, but 
on VVaunangee explaining my desire, they all to my surprise, expressed oven 
eagerness to meet my wishes, for, as he assured me, the young men looked 
upon me as a great warrior who had achieved a deed of heroism that might 
procure tlie distinction of a chief, and entitling me to their services in all 
tidngs. 

" I certainly thought my Iionors cheaply enough purchased ; however I was 
but too glad to appropriate to myself the respect and good-will which the 
killing of the Winnebago had entailed — and matters were soon arranged. 

"The body having been removed outside, and the doors secured as well 
as, under the circumstances, could be done, one of the warriors cut from a 
tree in the adjacent wood, a semi-circular piece of tough and flexible bark, 
about six feet iu length, and in the hollow of this, the murdered father of 
Maria Heywood, alre.ady swathed lightly in a blanket, was placed. A long 
pole was then passed through tlie equi-distant loops of cord that encircled 
the whole, and two of the Indians having, with the assistance of their 
companions, raised it upon their shoulders, it was thus borne — the parties 
being relieved at intervals — over the two long miles of road that led to the 
skirt of the woods near the encampment. Here the body of Indians 
stopped, while Waunangee and myself repaired to the tent of his father, 
who no sooner had heard detailed by his son tlie account of my Winnebago 
killing practice of tlie preceding evening, than ho overwhelmed me with 
congratulations, and looked proudly on the knife, still stained with a spot or 
two of blood, which 1 returned to him, and which he restored to its usual 
resting-place on his hip. 

" Perceiving that Winnebeg was, like his young men, ready to do any 
thing for me. I explained to him my desire to convey the body of Mr. 
Heywood across the river, and bury him secretly in his own grounds, but 
that it was necessary, in order to do this effectually, that he and his son 
should go with me, and by some circuitous route. Entering at once into 
my views, he said he would show me a place where we could cross without 
being seen either from the Fort or from his own encampment, and then led 
the way back to the wood where the party were still waiting. 

" The rest is soon told. Dismissing the young men into the encampment, 
Winnebeg, with his son, bore the body within the skirt of the wood, until 
we reached a bend of the river hidden from observation, where a canoe 
with paddies was drawn up on the beach. There we crossed, and going 
round to the rear of the cottage, entered the garden, and proceeded to the 
upper end, where at the summer house, near a favorite rose-tree of Maria's, 
1 dug with my own hands a hasty grave, in which Winnebeg and Waunangee 
placed the body — its only coffin being the bark that was swathed around it. 
Of course I always intended to disinter it at some future, but not distant 
period, and bestow upon it the usual rites of burial. 

" This painful task accomplished, and the soil having been carefully 
replaced, so as to leave no inequality of surface, I accompanied my friends 
back by the same route, and about nine o'clock left the Pottowattamie 
encampment with them and a few other warriors of the tribe fur the Fort, 
which in the crowd I entered without difficulty or creating suspicion. 
Watching my opportunity, I stole to the rear of my bed-room — openetl and 
entered the window — changed my dress, and made my appearance on 
parade as you saw." 

" All is ready, sir," said Sergeant Nixon, entering just .as he had concluded, 
and before Elmsley could offer any remark on this singular adventure — "the 
coffin is in the scow, and Gorporal Collins, Green and Pbilips are there also 



94 HAEDSCKABBLE ; OR, 

with their shovels, ropes, and picks. If Mr. Elmsley will give me perinis- 
sion," awl he touched his cap to that officer. '■ I will go too, sir." 

"As sergeant of the guard — no, Nixon, my good fellow, that will never 
do. The tlireo men you have named, are, with my.self, quite enough. Be 
on the look-out though, to let us ia on our return. Have you provided a 
dark lantern ?" 

" Yes, sir, Collins has the lantern belouging to the guard house." 

" Good. I will follow you in a moment, Elmsley," he continued, rising 
and draining otf his half-emptied glass, " lend me your prayer-book. I wish 
that you could be present at tliis dismal ceremony, but of course that in 
wholly out of the question." 

" It is, indeed, my dear fellow. It would never do for us both to be 
absent. Not only ourselves bnt the men wonld be brought into the scrape, 
for you know Headley alwaj's sleeps with one eye open." 

"I do not like to do any thing clandestinely," remarked the ensign — 
" particularly after our reconciliation with him. Moreover, it is, as you say, 
in some degree compromising the men and myself with them. I have a 
great mind before I start to see and explain every thing to Headley, and 
obtain his sanction to my absence." 

" Nonsense," returned his friend, " he will never know it ; besides it is 
possible that he may refuse to let you go before morning, and your object is, 
of course, to have every tiling finished to-night. Take my advice ; go 
without speaking to him on the subject, and if your remorse of conscience," 
and he smiled archly, " be so great afterwards, as to deprive you of more 
rest and appetite than you lost after killing that poor devil of a Winnebago, 
go to him as you did before — confess that you have again been a naughty 
boy — ask his pardon, and I am sure he will forgive the crime." 

" Well, I believe you are right. Be it so. Adieu, I sliall be back within 
a couple of hours at the latest." 

"If you do, you will in all probability find me still poring over this old 
Intelligencer, which is full of rumors of aproaching war with the British." 

" I shall be more inclined to hug my pillow," replied tlie ensign as be 
departed, " for I must again cross to the cottage, and be back here before 
guard-mounting to-morrow." 

Within ten minutes the party — two of them having borne the empty 
coffin, and the coi'poral the necessary implements, stood near the rose-tree 
in the garden. The body of Mr. Heywood was disinterred — the bark in 
which it lay wound round with many folds of a large sheet, and placed in 
the coffin, which after being screwed down, was deposited in a grave dug at 
least five feet under the surface. Then commenced the burial service, which 
was read by the young officer in a slow and impressive tone, and by the 
light of the shaded lantern, which, falling obliquely upon the forms of the 
men, discovered them standing around the grave — one foot resting on the 
edge — the other drawn back, as they awaited the signal to lower their 
almost offensive burden into its last resting-place. At length the prayers 
for the dead were ended, and the grave was carefully filled up, leaving as 
before, no inequality, but too deep to attract the scent of Lonp Garou. Then 
after having dug up a few small roots of the sweet briar, and placed them at 
intervals on the newly-turned earth. Ronayne crossed with his little party 
to the Fort, glad to obtain a few hours of that repose, for which the 
harassing events of the day bad so much predisposed him. 



THE FALL OF CHXACO. / 96 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The fourth of Ju!_y 1812, was a more tlian usual gala-iky in tlie little Fort 
of Oliicago, for iu adJitiou to tlie National Jul)ilee, thci'B was to be cele- 
brated one of a jJiivate, yet not less iuteresl-rni^ nature. On that eveninj^ 
Eusiifu Ronayne was to espouse, in the very room iu which he had first been 
introduced to her. the woman he had so long and so ardently loved, and 
who, her mother haviug after a severe struggle become convalescent, had 
confjr:i:ably to her promise, yielded a not reluctant consent to his proposal 
thai tliis day of general Joy, should be that of the commencement of their 
own happiness. 

At that remote period, and in the absence of duly ordained clergymen, it 
was customary for marriages to be performed by the Governors of Districts 
and by commanding officers of distant Forts, arid these, perfectly legal, were 
subsequently as inclination, or scruple of conscience induced, celebrated in 
the usual manner. Tlie early marriages of British subjects in Canada, soon 
after its conquest from the French, as well .is many of those of the colonies 
now known as the United States, took place iu this mannner, and the custom 
had been continued until increased population provided the means ol securing 
that spiritual comfort, which it must, of course, have been impossible for one 
dressed in a reil coat instead of a black one, to impart. 

But neither Maria Heywood or Ronayne stood much on this punctilio. 
Provided the ceremony was legal, and according to the customs of the 
country, it mattered little who married them — the governor of a district — 
the commandant of a garrison, or a Gretna Green blacksmith — had they felt 
at all disposed to avail tlieniselves of the services of the latter. 

It was a lovely day, und every thing seemed to smile upon the denizens 
of that region, from the early dawn until the setting of the sun. Officers 
and men were iu their brightest uniforms — the women and children in tlieir 
holiday dresses. A splendid new Star Spangled Banner — the work of Maria 
Heywood's hands — floated iu the dazzling rays of the sun, upon the southern 
bastion of the Fort. Joy and pride sat on every brow. They exulted at tho 
recollection of that hardly won freedom from injustice, which was that day 
to be celebrated for the thirty-sixth time. 

At noon the cannon thundered lorth their bursts of rejoicing. This was 
the signal for the numerous Pottowattamies outside, all of wliom bad decked 
themselves for the occasion, to a[)proach nearer to the Fort. On the glacis 
they discharged their guns and rifles, and seemed to have but one spirit with 
the allies to whom they appeared to have devoted tliemselves. Winnebeg, 
however, though long expected, had not yet returned, and nothing yet had 
been seen of Waunangee, since his departure on tlie da\ following the little 
incident which occurred in Elm>ley's apartments. 

Contrary to that unnatural etiipielte which enjoins that two betrothed 
persons, who are expected to be inseparable after marriage, should never 
show themselves together in public immediately before, Ronayne had after 
parade ascended the rampart, vvith Maria Heywood leaning upon his arm, 
occasionally glancing at tlie group of gaily-costumed Indians, who were 
amusing themselves on the green, but oftener admiring the lovely view, 
softened by distance, which was ]iresented in various [lomt.';, and particularly 
towards the farm — the theatre of events which the otherwise happy girl, 
could not at that moment avoid bringing to her recollection. 

While gazing in that direction, her eye fell upon the form of a young 
Indian who was leaning against the corner of the i)icketed bastion on her 
left, in the sh.allow, dry, and grass-covered ditch that surrounded it. At 
first her glance caught an indistinct human form dressed in the Indian garb, 
but as her gaze settled on the object, her surprise was great to recognise 
Waunangee, who was even then looking at her with tliG same softened and 



96 HARDSCRABBI.E ; OR, 

eloquent expression, ■whiclj had given Ijer so much anxiety on a former 
occis'on. The impression produced upon her was exactly what it had beeB 
tlien — indescribable — inexplicable to herself. 

" What is the matter, my love?" inquired Roiiayne tenderly, and pressing 
her arm to his heart — " what fixes your attention below ?" then seeing the 
Indian himself. "Ah! Waunangee, my friend!" he exclaiii.ed, "where 
have you been all tliis time ? Come round to tlie gate and sliake liaiids with 
my wffe." 

"No, no, no, do not call him up, Ronayne — you cannot think how much 
the presence of that Indian troubles me." 

"Nay, dearest Maria, you are not yourself. Why continue this strong 
dislike against the poor fellow? I thought you had quite forgiven liim." 

Was it accident — was it modesty, or was it a consciousness that his 
presence was not desired by at least one of the parties, that prevented tlie 
young Indian from obeying the summiuis of tlie officer. Whatever the 
cause, he assumed a serious mein, and playing one of tllo^e melanolioly airs 
which so often, at that time, might de heanl proceeding from the rude flute 
of tlieir race, walked slowly away. 

" I fear you have offended him, Maria. Oh ! if you knew " 

"Ronayne — dearest Harry !" interrupted his betrothed — "I have never 
said anything of this before to you, because, after all, it is but an idle fancy, 
yet I cannot divest myself of the idea that this Indian, interesting and 
prepossessing as he is, is somehow or other connected with my future fate. 
Nay," as the young officer smiled in playful mockery, " you may ridicule 
my presentiment, whicli is, I confess, so much at variance with good sense, 
that I almost blush to introduce the subject, but still I cannot banish the 
impiession." 

" Then I will assist you in doing so, dearest, even though at the risk of 
re-openiug a newly-closed wound," remarked her lover, with deep afl'ection 
of manner. "In my narrative of those events, hastily thrown together, 
whicli I gave you on that memorable night, when I suffered fur a period, 
almost the torments of the damned, I did not, it seems to me, name the 
young Indian, who, with his father, so greatly aided me on my return to the 
farm, and even bore upon his shoulders the sacred charge." 

" No, Harry, you did not," quickly rejoined Maria Hey wood ; " but I 
know now whom you mean. It was Waunangee." 

"It was," said the ensign — "I know your knowledge of that fact will 
change your feelings towards him." 

"They are clianged — even at this moment, and henceforth I shall be to 
him as a sister. Ah ! how ungrateful must I have appeared to the poor 
fellow. I shall conquer this silly weakness. I have misunderstood my own 
impressions, and it must have been that I have mistaken the influence 
Waunangee has had for that which is to be. Call him up now, Ronayne, 
and I .will cheerfully give him my hand, and promise to love him as a brother 
in return for the devotion he has evinced, not less for you than for my poor 
father." 

"Time enough, repentant sinner," returned the young officer, at the same 
time casting his glance rapidly over the group of Indians, who were 
amusing themselves at various athletic games. " 1 can see nothing of him. 
Your evident displeasure," he added playfully, " has destroyed his peace, as 
indeed you might have known from tliat plaintive ditty. However, dearest 
girl, I sliall see him soon, and make him promise to be present this evening 
at the nuptials of his friend and sister. Nay, if I had not engaged Elmsley, 
I should insist on his being my bridesman." 

The only notice taken of this sally was a faint smile from his companion, 
■who now descended with him from the r.ampart and proceeded to the apart- 
ments of Mrs. Elmsley, where her mother and herself had once more been 
Tisitors for the last few days. Here they separated to meet again in the 
evening — Ronayne directing his attention to his various duties, and looking 
ont at intervals for his young Indian friend. 



THE FALL OF CHICAGO. 97 

It was night. No accident hud occurred beyond tlie laceration of two of 
Ephraim Giles's fingers, who having tliat day been presented with a new suit 
by the doctor — the fac-simile in fa^liion of tlie old — bad been whittling 
ahnost in front of one of the guns when discharijed, and lost, with the skin 
of Ids finger, botli his stick and Ida knife. The sultrine.-(3 of the day had 
l)eeii succeeded by a cool and refreshing air. Gaiety and content every 
wliere prevailed, and many were the voices — male and female — that ex- 
claimed, as allusion was made to the ceremony all knew to be in progress : 
" Gild bless them, nnd make them happy, as they deserve to be." A large 
tub of whisky-puDcli, the gift of the cnmmandinir ciflicer, had been brewed 
by Von VottenbeK, for their mid-day revel, and tlii.s, .ill had been unanimous 
in pronouncing Kne best medicine the doctor had ever administered to them; 
and now in small social messes, seated round their rude tables, covered with 
tin goblets, and pitchers of the same metal — the moiliers with their children 
at their side or upon their knees, atid tin: fathers and ujimarried men puffing 
clouds of smoke from their short pipe-- — which tliey filled from two others 
placed on an elevated settle — one in each block house — which the happy 
Ronayue had given tliem on the occasion. 

Even the guard was moderately supplied, and the sentrie-^ alone, pacing to 
and fro in tJieir liudted walk, felt the bitterness of privation, as tliey coimted 
the minutes that must elapse before tliey could join in the festivities which 
the loud voice and ringing laugh, occasionally wafted to their ears, told them 
were in progress. 

In the rooms of the commanding officer there was more than the usual 
manifestation of the anniversary. All had dined at an etrly hour, but a 
large side-board that stood in one corner of the council room — -[dways fitted 
up on these occasions — was covered with vases containing wines, liqueurs, 
juleps, and punches of various kinds — the latter the work of the indefatigable 
son of Esculapius, and of these the host and liis guests jjaitook freely, in 
commemoration of the day. At the opposite end of the room had been 
raised a sort of tribune for the orator of the day, but as it was intended the 
address should be impromptu, no name had been mentioned, nor could any 
one know, until the moment when the majority of voices should select him 
on whom the office was to devolve. In the fear entertained by each that he 
should be the party selected, the glas-:, to impart tlie necessary courage, was 
not spared. But he who was not in the room, or of the number of those 
devoted to the punch-bowl was the person chosen. As if by one impul-ive 
consent, Ronayne, who was seated in the inner room, and discoursiui; of any 
thing but politics to his betrothed, found himself loudly called upon — 
knew it was in vain to object — and reluctantly rose in obedience to the 
summons. 

" Come young gentleman," said Captain Ileadley, entering with an .'lir of 
gaiety by no means usual to him, "you are, it appears, in all things," ;ind 
he bowed significantly to Maria Ileywoad, "the cliosen of the evening — but 
recollect,"' he added, as ho drew his arm through his own, and procecdeil 
tow.'U-iis the larger apartment, where Roiuiyne was aw.iited, ".as you ao';uit 
yoursi'lf of i/oui' duty, so shall 1 of mine." 

" I shall do my best, s r," replied the youth, in the same light tone, " but; 
of the two orations, 1 know which will be the best suited to my own taste." 

The other ladies, with the exception of Mrs. Ileywood, h.-id also risen, 
and now stood grouped near Captain Ileadley, who, with .Maria Ileywood on 
hi< arm, leaned against the door-way separating the two rooms — whil^' 
Uonayne, anud clieers and congratulations, nnule his way to the tribune, at 
the farther end of the apartment. 

Ilis .address wtis necessarily not long — for independently of the imptitieuoe 
he could not but entertain at that moment of all subjects but that neare-t 
his heart, he was by no means ambitiou^ of making a display of his powers 
of elocution. Yet, notwithstanding this, he treated histheuie in so masterly 
a nuvnner, .and in such [>orfectly good ta-sie, oiiiittiug all expressions of that 
rancor towards Great Britain, which forms so leadin:^ a feature iu .Vmorican 



98 HARDSCRABBLE ; OR, 

orations on this occasion, anj 3'et reflecting honor on the lanci of his birth — 
alhulinf;, moreover, to tlie hifjli ])(>silioii even tlien oi^OMpied by tlie nation, 
and tlie Cutiire greatness wliicli he predicted, from its Laws, its institutions, 
and peculiar form of government, awaited it. — that Maria lleywood could 
not fail to experience a secret pride in the warm, and evidently sincere 
acclamation of the little party present, attesting as they did, tlieir estimate 
of the worth of him, who in another hour, would bo her own for life. 

As Ronayno descending from the tribune, passed to the other side of tlie 
room, he looked out of tlie door which had been left open, not more on 
account of the lieat, than to afford the men and their families an opportunity 
of hearing the discourse thus delivered — almost tlie lirst MU;gon wlio came 
under his glance was Waunangee, fir whose admission he Md given orders 
to the Serjeant of the guard, and who now, in compliance with his pressing 
entreaty, had attended. He was becomingly dressed in deer skin, richly 
embroidered, ])liant and of a clear brown that harmonized well with the 
snowy whiteness of liis liueii shirt, which was fastened with silver brooches, 
while oil the equally decorated leggins, be wore around the ancle, strings of 
minute bra>8 hells. On his head floated the rich iilumage of various rare 
birds, but no paint was visible beyond the slightest tint of vermilion on the 
very top of each cheek-bone, rendering even mure striking the expression of 
his soft dark eyes. 

Beckoning to him, Ronayne drew the young Indian within the door, 
which had he not accidentally distinguislied him in the crowd, he was quite 
too modest to enter alone. Then drawing his arm through his own, he led 
hi.m, coloring and embarrassed at the novelty of the scene, to the place 
where Captain Headley was still lingering with his charge. The moment 
they were near enough, the latter held out her hand to Waunangee, and with 
all the warmth of her generous nature, pressed that wliioli he extended. 
Tlie young Indian colored more deeply even than before — his hand trembled 
in hers — and the look of thankfulness which ho bent upon her, in return for 
this nnmi<takeable confiiience, had all the touching melancholy of expression 
wliicli she had remarked in them at their first meeting. Again a mingled 
sentiment of confusion and distrust suffused tlie cheek, and for a moment 
oppressed the spirit of Maria Heywood in despite of herself, and she almost 
wished Waunangee had not returned. The thought, however, was moment- 
ary. She felt the folly, the injustice of her feelings, and anxious to atone 
for them, she nervously— almost convulsively grasped the band of the 
Indian, carried it to her lips, and said in her full, sweet and earnest tones, 
that he must ever be her lirotlier as she would ever be his sister. 

"And now," said Ca|)taiu Headley to the young officer, "what reward 
do you expect for your ni.aideu oration ? What shall it be. Miss Heywood ?" 
'■ I will spare her the trouble of an answer," interposed Ronayne, as he 
took the arm which had just disengaged itself from that of the commandant, 
and placed it within his own, '" until you have set your seal to the priceless 
gift," anil his eyes looked all the intensity of his feeling; ''I part not with 
it again." 

"Every thing is ready in the next, room," ar.svvered Captain Headley — 
" go in. When I have announced that the ceremony is about to take place, 
I shall hasten to give you the dear girl for life," and imprinting a ki.^is upon 
her brow, he passed on to those who were paying their homage to the 
punch-bowl, auil di>cussiiig the merits of the oration just delivered. 

It was with a flushed cheek, and a beating heart that Maria Heywood was 
led by Rou.ayne, radiant with hope and joy, to the little table covered with 
plain, white linen, and illuminated by half a dozen tall candles, behiud which 
the commanding officer had placed himself on an elevated estrade. 

All of the guest-> were grouped around, a little in the rear, while Lieutenant 
Elmsley stood on the right hand of his friend, and his wife on the left of the 
betrothed. Next to her, in an arm chair, which, provided with rollers, was 
easily moved, Mrs. Heywood — and with her beautiful arms reposing on the 
high buck of this, stood Mrs. Headley iii graceful attitude, watching the 



THK FALL OK C.MJi...). 99 

ceremony witli almo-t matorn:il interest. Iniaifdiatily lieliind Ronayne, 
from whom he evidently <li(l not like to be separa'.i'il, stood Waunangee, 
•with an air of deep dejection, yet casting glances rapidly from one to the 
other of his two friends. 

"When the young oflieer, after having formally rec.L-ived the bride from Iier 
mother, whose strength barely i>ermilted her to rise and go tlirotigh that part 
of the ceremony, proceeded to place the ring n|ion the finger of his wife, it 
fell, eitlier from nervousness or accident upon the matted floor. Quick as 
thoiiglil, Waunangee, who had now his whole attention bent npon the 
p:i?sing scene, stooped, picked it uji, and attempted to place it on the finger, 
Btill extended, for which it was designeil. 

"Gently, Waunangee, ray good fellow," saiil the officer, pi(|Ued not less at 
his own awkwardness at such a moment, than at the outr6 act of the youth, 
from whom he rather unceremoniously took it — " the husband only does 
this." 

" Wall I" involuntarily exclaimed the other, his cheek becoming briahtei, 
and his eyes kindling into sudden fierceness, while his hand intuitively 
clutched the handle of his knife — yet the moment afterwards relinquished it. 
The motion had been so quick, indeed, that only Mr. Headley and the bride 
herself had noticed it. 

Still fascinated as it were by the novel scene, Waunangee moved not 
away, but the expression of his eyes had wholly changed. There wa.s no 
longer to be remarked there the great melancholy of the past — but the wild 
restless, flashing glance that told of strong excitement within. 

When immediately afterward,s they knelt, and had their hands joined by 
Captain lleadley, Waunangee bent e.agerly forward, as if apprehensive of 
losing the slightest part of the ceretnonial, but when at the conclusion, 
Ronayne saluted his wif« in the usual manner, his cheek became suddenly 
pale as its native hue would permit, and with folded arms and proud attitude 
he withdrew slowly from the place he bad hitherto occupied, to mingle 
more with the crowd behind. 

When Ronayne, who, remembering the little incident of the ring, and the 
possible pique Waun.angee might feel, turned to look for him, that he might 
again present his bride in her new character, he was no where to be seen, 
nor was he ever again beheld within the precincts of that stockade. 

And under those singular and somewhat ominous circumstances, were 
the long-delayed nuptials of Harry Ronayne and Maria Heywood — the 
great favorites of the garrison — celebrated to the joy of all within the 
Fort of Chicago. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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